Month: January 2018

Recent figures have shown that the most popular colour choice for new cars in 2017 was black. That’s not the worst news either, as it’s just part of a monochrome podium that includes grey in second place and white in third.

Depressingly, an obsession with perceived resale values and not wishing to offend the eyes of potential buyers means that Britain’s roads are in danger of losing colour altogether. Just look at the options lists for any new car and you’ll likely find it’s a similar story.

For example, the big-selling Audi A4 saloon is available in 12 paint finishes – nine of which are black, white, silver or grey. Even cars aimed at younger buyers aren’t immune – the new Volkswagen Polo can be had in blue, red, or orange – on top of eight monochromatic offerings.

But some manufacturers still light the way for a brighter future, offering various great colours in which you can spec your new car. We’ve rounded up some of the best on sale today – along with a few from history we just can’t forget.

Sonoma Green

When the new Audi RS5 was launched, surprisingly little attention was paid to the car’s 444bhp V6 engine or quattro all-wheel-drive system. Instead, journalists and potential buyers alike were lusting over the colour.
It’s not that Sonoma Green is a particularly eye-catching shade, but it was an unexpected move from a company that launches most of its cars in silver or grey. We just wish it could be paired with a tan leather interior.

Lapiz Blue

The best colour for a Golf GTI is red, but for the four-wheel-drive R, only one shade will do for us. It’s the gloriously deep Lapiz Blue, and it marks the R out as a more discreet and classy offering than its yobbish little brother.
Admittedly, a rash of brilliant finance deals means the R is a fairly common sight on UK roads – but we love the colour so much that we wouldn’t mind if every car was painted in it.

Soul Red

Very rarely does a manufacturer produce a colour that looks the business across its entire range of cars, but Mazda hit the nail on the head with Soul Red. Whether it’s on the tiny MX-5 or the beefy CX-5, it looks great.
Though other colour options are available, we can’t imagine why you’d choose them – plus, the majority are monochrome and dark shades.

Geyser Grey

The 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911 brought us a glorious special edition. Fitted with a houndstooth cloth interior and recreation Fuchs alloys, it was a retro marvel that sold out quickly.
However, we’re more interested in the Geyser Grey metallic paint. It’s fantastically understated and suits the car down to the ground, without being just another shade of grey.

Cyan Racing Blue

Volvos aren’t exactly known for being eye-catching and flamboyant, but the hot Polestar models are another story. They’re available in this brilliant, bright blue – technically called Cyan Racing Blue, but known to most as simply ‘Polestar Blue’.
With the right wheels and bodykit, Polestar Blue turns a practical and dull Volvo into a loud and proud masterpiece. We’re not biased at all.

Liquid Yellow

Yellow cars are oft-maligned, and sometimes are subject to abuse – one pensioner in a picturesque Gloucestershire village had his yellow car vandalised for spoiling tourist’s views. We wonder what the tourists would have made of a Renaultsport model in the firm’s brilliant Liquid Yellow.
Lifted right from the Renault F1 team’s livery, Liquid Yellow has been a stalwart of the RS range of hot hatchbacks for years – and always looks incredible. Paired with gloss black detailing, it makes the latest Clio RS one of the prettiest hot hatchbacks around.

MSO Amethyst Black

This is how you do black right. McLaren’s MSO division will create just about any bespoke colour you like, but we’re massive fans of Amethyst Black. It’s a sophisticated multi-layer colour, which appears dark until the light catches it just right – when it lights up with a deep purple hue.
When fitted on the curves and creases of a McLaren supercar, it’s just as eye-catching as a bright shade, and slides under the radar more easily, too.

WR Blue Mica

Think of a Subaru and you’re almost certainly going to picture an Impreza WRX STI, finished in WR Blue Mica with gold wheels to match.
The colour is synonymous with the Japanese manufacturer’s World Rally Championship success, winning three constructors titles between 1995 and 1997, while sporting the now-famous blue and gold colours. An Impreza in any other shade is just wrong.

Rosso Corsa

What colour is a Ferrari? Sure, the Italian brand’s supercars look amazing in yellow or blue – but Ferraris are red, and that’s how it always will be.
Rosso Corsa in its purer, non-metallic form is more often found on older Ferraris, with updated versions named Rosso Scuderia and Rosso Mugello equally popular on contemporary models. We like it best on the Ferrari F40 – as do many others, we’re sure.

British Racing Green

Patriotism ahoy – British Racing Green is absolutely the national shade, though the lack of small British sports cars wearing it is a cause for concern. Still, on vintage vehicles, nothing looks better.
Made famous by the 1954 Jaguar D-Type, various shades of green had appeared before on Bentley cars at Le Mans. It’s now relegated to the options list of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, usually under a different name. We say bring back BRG!

Jaguar’s new E-Pace SUV is about to hit UK roads – and is set to be a huge seller for the British manufacturer. Coming in the wake of the popular F-Pace, it’s designed to appeal to people wanting a slightly more compact but high-riding SUV.

Not only is this latest compact SUV good to look at, it’s also packed with innovative new tech features – and here are five you need to know about.

4G internet hotspot

Not only is the E-Pace capable of tackling rough terrain, it can also provide an internet hotspot for its passengers. That means you can wirelessly connect to the internet on a variety of devices – all from the comfort of the car.

The car itself is also internet-ready, giving you instant access to internet-based apps via the car’s infotainment system. Put the CDs away – this is all the multimedia tech you’ll need.

Smart activity key

For those who are on the go, taking a key can be annoying. That’s why the E-Pace comes with a wearable, waterproof activity key. Rubberised and comfortable, it lets you lock and unlock the car simply by pressing your wrist against the boot.

It’s also waterproof to 20 metres, meaning you’re free to go swimming, surfing or kayaking without worrying that it’ll break. The regular key stays inside the car but is deactivated – keeping things safe and secure.

Phone-based remote

If you’ve ever been inside your house and wondered how much fuel is left in your car, then this could be the ideal feature. Currently being used by a variety of manufacturers, the phone-based remote allows you to check the E-Pace’s fuel levels, as well as where you’ve parked it.

Not only that, but you can also see how efficiently you’ve been driving or check your overall average speed.

Lane departure warning

A useful piece of new tech for those who spend a lot of time on the motorways, the E-Pace’s lane departure warning system vibrates the steering wheel should it detect that the car is drifting across a lane. It’ll also flash a warning on the main screen ahead of the driver too.

In addition, the E-Pace packs lane-keep assist technology. This will gently steer the car around bends when it detects that your hands are on the wheel, making longer journeys more comfortable.

Head-up display

The head-up display on the E-Pace is projected directly on to the windscreen and gives clear and easy-to-read indications regarding speed and the current gear. In addition, it displays satellite navigation directions – meaning you don’t have to look down at the main screen.

When coupled with audible commands, the system lets you follow the satellite navigation without having to lose concentration by checking other screens.

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas maybe the place to learn about smart fridges, huge flat screen TVs and the latest drones – but it’s also rapidly becoming a hot bed of car news too.

More and more car manufacturers are investing in huge stands and unveiling their latest technology at the event in Sin City.

This year, Japanese and Korean manufacturers flocked to the event to show off their new products. Here we take a look at the biggest news.

Kia Niro EV

Korean firm Kia used the show to take the wraps off its next generation electric car – an SUV with a range of 238 miles. It features a 64kWh battery pack and leads the charge for the brand’s promise to roll out a further 16 more electrified vehicles by 2025. On the outside it debuts a smart, futuristic look while inside there’s a gesture-controlled cockpit and 5G connection for high definition content streaming – that means Netflix on the go and no buffering for your passengers to worry about.

Nissan mind reading

Nissan says its cars of the future will read drivers’ minds to reduce reaction times and make autonomous driving more comfortable. The Brain-to-Vehicle (B2V) technology can predict human behaviour and detect when a motorist is feeling uncomfortable thanks to clever software. Brain waves are decoded by a special headband worn by the driver and Nissan says it cuts reaction times by guessing when a driver is about to make a movement – like braking when they spot stationary traffic.

Toyota e-Palette

In the future tipping the pizza boy will be a thing of the past if Toyota has its way and your Mighty Meaty is delivered autonomously by one of these. It’s called the e-Palette, an autonomous, electric vehicle designed to be used by businesses like Amazon, Uber and Pizza Hut. The idea, says Toyota, is businesses can adapt and modify the platform to suit its needs – be that carrying passengers as a taxi, or dropping off your last-minute online purchases.

Honda off-road robot

Another Japanese car firm looking to help industry is Honda, with the all-terrain 3E-D18 robot. Looking like a quad bike, it’s designed to be adaptable so owners can use it for construction, or on the farm. Honda describes the autonomous, battery-powered 3E-D18 as a “work horse” which could be adapted for use in search and rescue or fire fighting as it “minimises human exposure to dangerous environments”. Using GPS and sensor-based autonomy it can navigate almost any terrain.

Fisker Emotion

Move over Tesla, there’s a new electric car in town – although if you didn’t search hard, you’d have missed it at CES. Tucked away in the corner was the Fisker Emotion – an electric supercar with a 400-mile range and claimed top speed of more than 160mph. With similar dimensions to a Tesla Model S, the Fisker has mad butterfly front and rear doors controlled by a smartphone, three screens inside for the driver and autonomous capabilities. First models are due in 2020 and it’ll cost £96,000.

Byton Concept

With a former BMW i executive at the tiller of the company, Chinese-owned Byton is hoping its electric concept car will be a hit. With a 469bhp power train, and a 323-mile range the car debuts a whopping dashboard-wide screen to give the driver all the information they could dream of. Available with two power options – buyers will be able to pick from a 268bhp rear-wheel drive version, or four-wheel drive 469bhp option. The batteries form part of the chassis and instead of door handles it uses facial recognition cameras to unlock the doors. It is due to enter production next year at a cost of £33,200.

If I’ve learned one thing about travelling to America, it’s this: Don’t ever get a connecting flight anywhere. Ever.

Ok, so there’s plenty of other things I’ve learned along the way too. Like the fact you can turn right on a red light, that you have to pay for fuel before using any and they like to put cheese on everything. Even fruit.

But when I write my memoirs of life on the road as a motoring journalist (which will be never), that key connecting flight point will ride high in the chapter list.

Journey from hell

Why? Well, I write this after 46 hours of travelling to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show. It should have been a simple journey, but turned into one from hell – but thankfully was made a little sweeter by a car.

Let’s rewind a few, painful hours to where it all went horribly wrong. I’d got off a BA flight from Heathrow to Dallas. I’d enjoyed free wine, watched a not altogether terrible film and slept soundly for a good few hours. Life was good.

Immigration woe

But then Dallas took all that away. Thousands of people stood in the queue for immigration and despite some high viz, queue jumping ticket thrust into my hand, entering the promised land was tough.

Quite why America still has a ridiculous problem processing visitors is beyond me. This is the home of Google, of Apple, of some of greatest business brains in the world. Why one of them can’t put some of their cranial activity to one side for a week and solve the issue of getting humans through its immigration halls is beyond me.

Two-headed chickens

To be fair, the orange fast pass helped, but still the process took too long. Time was ticking away for the connecting flight to Vegas. And then all hope of catching it evaporated with the sight of thousands more people trying to get out of the baggage hall.

American borders are cruel, you see. Once you’ve escaped the hell of immigration they make you stand for hours in another line to get out of the baggage hall. A man has to stamp a piece of paper that says you’re not bringing two-headed chickens into the country.

I felt like moaning, but then realised he’d only call me ‘sir’ a lot and had a gun. And if we know one anything about Americans, it’s that they like to use guns.

Missed flight

I ran for the flight, but missed it by minutes. And so began a chain of events that would see me eventually crossing states on an epic road trip to Nevada.

A man behind a counter frowned a lot at me, but said he’d ‘done me a favour’ by getting me on a flight to Phoenix and then on to Vegas.

I made that flight, took a seat next to a huffing man, but it took off two hours late, ruining any chance of me making my next connection in time. There was only one thing for it, I joined the man next to me in the huffing.

New hope

A woman behind a counter at Phoenix told me I was stuck, very cheerfully she did too. How Americans can keep their happy faces on when delivering bad news is another mystery. I can only imagine the same falseness is used on death row. ‘Ok, sir, here’s your needle, have a nice day!’

She booked me on to a flight the next morning, but couldn’t guarantee I’d get a seat. I took the ticket from her, smiled, and threw it in the nearest bin.

Google Maps told me a road trip to Vegas would take about six hours, so the hunt for a car began. Avis came up trumps with a Ford Mustang – sadly not a V8, but a decent V6 – and within half an hour I was driving it to the cheap motel the airline had booked for me.

Flew to Dallas. Immigration misery and baggage cock up meant missed connecting flight. Got another to Phoenix. That was delayed too so missed connection to Vegas. Now stuck in Phoenix so done the only sensible thing… screw you planes pic.twitter.com/A3bdTLGbcW

— James Baggott (@CarDealerEd) January 8, 2018

Hire car win

It’s incredibly easy to book a car in the States – a driving licence and credit card is all you need – and they didn’t even sniff at the fact I’d be driving it 300 miles away from where I picked it up.
The next morning I hit the road. Driving past Phoenix airport I rose a salute to the planes reaching skyward – this Mustang a way of improving a rather desperate few days.

With some soft rock on the radio, I was on my way, heading north towards Kingman on I93. The dual carriageway bumps and grinds its way through huge landscapes, a forest of Joshua Trees at the roadside swaying gently as huge articulated trucks thunder past.

Interstate cruising

My Mustang settles into a cruise, the comfortable seats worn cosy by the hundreds of borrowers who’ve already added 19,000 miles to the Ford. It’s not until you take to the road, that you realise quite how big America is. It’s not just the portions, or the soft drinks that are super-sized – the roads, the skyline and scenery are all of epic proportions too.

I watch countless RVs rumbling down the road – these don’t tow Fiat 500s or Smart cars behind them, like in the UK, I spot one towing a Volvo S80 saloon and another a Range Rover.

Lunch of champions

On the Arizona radio station I’m tuned to, a dust storm warning is issued. When it strikes, it says, stop the car, wind up the windows, turn on your lights and sit it out. All I see ahead, though, is rain sweeping its way across the plains like a shower curtain.

I stop in Kingman for some reward lunch. The famous In N Out burger illuminated sign rises high above the freeway, showing me the way. American motorways are brilliantly signposted for food (funny that), with huge signs telling you what delights can be found off each junction.

I’d been holding on for an In N Out. Their simple menu – burgers with or without cheese, and fries – is something even the country’s floppy haired leader can understand. It’s delivered in baskets and is deliciously dripping in calories. Needless to say, the burger joint is rammed with happy clientele.

Sightseeing gold

As I leave Kingman, still heading north on the I93, I start to see signs for the Hoover Dam. I’m late for the CES show in Las Vegas now and have missed most of the action, so decide to stop. Let’s face it, how often do you happen to be passing a landmark as iconic as this?

I pull off the freeway and roll up to a security post. There the guard tells me I can drive across the dam and park for free on the Arizona side.

Creeping over the huge structure, built in 1931 during the Great Depression, in this modern Mustang, feels surreal. I park up, jump out and marvel at the sheer scale of it. Pictures do not do the enormity of it justice.

Trump towers

An hour later I’m pulling up at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas at rental car returns. The 300-mile journey has taken me around eight hours and has been far less stressful – and a lot more memorable – than a few more awful hours in a tin can in the sky.

I rescue my bag from the airport – it made it to Vegas long before I did – and find an Uber to take me to the bright lights of the city. It’s pouring with rain as I arrive at Trump International hotel, the gold and chintz of the place as tacky as the rest of Vegas.

It’s nearly two days since I left home, I’m still wearing the same clothes, but I’m smiling. Coming to America shouldn’t be this tough, but when it is, a Mustang and the open road can make things feel a whole lot better. Maybe, missing those connecting flights isn’t such a bad thing after all.

Over the past 50 years, three letters have resonated deeply in the motoring world – GTI. Applied to some of the greatest road cars of all time, it’s come to represent a genuinely involving driving experience.

Though most remember it for its application on the Golf, the GTI badge has found its way onto a number of other Volkswagen cars too – and here’s 10 of the best combined.

Lupo GTI
2001-2004

The little Lupo was, as standard, a very popular city car. Compact in proportions yet spacious inside, first time drivers and those looking for low running costs loved the Lupo. However, the GTI was there for motoring enthusiasts.

Powered by a 1.6-litre engine with 125bhp, the Lupo GTI could hit 60mph in under eight seconds and, thanks to tuned suspension and sticky tyres, was an absolute hoot in the bends, too.

MK1 Golf GTI
1975-1983

The original, and possibly one of the most iconic hot hatches of all time. The MK1 Golf GTI followed a simple formula; low weight, just enough power to keep things interesting, and neat handling. Capable of hitting 60mph in eight seconds, the Golf GTI was quick for the time, while remaining practical thanks to its hatchback bodystyle.

Now a cult classic, prices for MK1 Golf GTIs in good condition are constantly rising.

MK2 Golf GTI
1983-1991

The second-generation Golf GTI had a difficult task on its hands, as it followed in the footsteps of the much-heralded MK1. Though larger and heavier than that first GTI, the MK2 offered a more grown-up driving experience – though still an exciting one.

Initially offered with a 1.8-litre engine, with just under 110bhp. Later on, a more powerful 16 valve version was released – giving drivers a little more punch. A facelifted ‘Big Bumper’ version was introduced around 15 years later than the GTI’s first reveal.

MK7 Golf GTI
2017-

The most recent GTI released, the MK7 Golf brought more technology and power to the line than ever before. A turbocharged 2.0-litre engine pushes the Golf to 60mph in under 6.5 seconds, while sports suspension allows the GTI to remain agile in the bends.

Though larger than ever, the latest GTI is still instantly recognisable thanks to red trim in the front grille, and tartan cloth seats inside – just the same as you’ll find in the first MK1 GTI.

MK5 Polo GTI
2011-2015

The Volkswagen Polo GTI was closer in size to the original GTI, and, thanks to a 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged engine it could hit 60mph in under seven seconds. In addition, it came with a good level of practicality, and enough space inside for four.

A typically high level of build quality had been applied throughout, but was criticised for being too grown-up. However, it did show Volkswagen expanding the GTI name into other areas other than just the Golf.

Up! GTI
2018-

Though yet to arrive on UK roads, the Up! GTI promises to be one of the most interesting cars to wear the GTI moniker yet. Despite using a small 1.0-litre turbocharged engine, it’s claimed to be able to hit 60mph in just over eight seconds – close to identical to the original GTI’s time.

Similar in size to the Lupo GTI, the Up! GTI is ideal for UK B-roads, with enough power to keep things interesting yet not too much to make it serious.

MK5 Golf GTI
2005-2009

The MK5 GTI was a true leap forward for the range, following on from the disappointing MK4. Engine capacity was up from 1.8 to 2.0-litres, endowing the GTI with a healthy 197bhp. It was also, for the first time, available with a dual-clutch DSG gearbox, offering fast gear changes as well as refinement on longer trips.

The MK5 GTI represented a return to form, not least because it was fitted with true performance mechanicals.

Polo GTI
2018-

Again, in a similar vein to the Up! GTI, the new Polo GTI has yet to arrive in the UK. More powerful than the older model – though only by 7bhp – it’s aiming to be more involving and direct to drive than the first-generation Polo GTI.

The suspension has been firmed up for better cornering while, interesting, it’s going to be offered initially with only a dual-clutch DSG gearbox – though a manual is expected to arrive later.

MK3 Golf GTI
1992-1997

Though larger and heavier than ever before, the MK3 GTI is now starting to look like somewhat of a future collectors’ item. Originally somewhat lacking in power – particularly when compared to the lighter MK1 – it was soon boosted with a 16 valve model.

It was also the most spacious GTI made up until that point, and was more refined than ever before, meaning that drivers could travel further in more comfort.

MK4 Golf GTI
1997-2004

It’s lower down the list for a reason, but in terms of natural progression the MK4 GTI needs to be included here. Yes, it may not have been the most involving to drive nor the sportiest looking, but without it Volkswagen wouldn’t have redoubled its efforts and created the MK5.

It was, at least, comfortable to drive over long distances and looked unassuming enough to be parked anywhere safely – but it lacked the sparkle that people expect from a GTI.

Hybrid and electric are the buzzwords of new car sales today – but there’s life in the internal combustion engine yet.

With pricey electrification out of the reach of a lot of buyers, manufacturers still manage to achieve frankly incredible fuel economy figures from even the humblest vehicles.
We’ve excluded hybrid cars from this list as it’s very difficult to accurately chart their fuel economy – it depends so much on the type of driving you do.

Read on for the top 10 most economical combustion-engined cars on sale today. Just remember, these fuel economy figures are by no means a guarantee of the numbers you can hope to achieve – they’re gathered under laboratory conditions, not in the real world.

Peugeot 208 1.6 BlueHDi Active 75 S&S

Fuel economy: 94mpg
Price: £16,940

Peugeot’s 208 isn’t the pick of the supermini class – that honour goes to the Ford Fiesta, which trumps the French car on driving dynamics. But the Peugeot hits back with incredible fuel economy of up to 94mpg from its 1.6-litre diesel engine.
The relatively large capacity and low power output means the engine is relatively unstressed, so CO2 emissions are similarly low – just 79g/km. The rest of the car’s assets aren’t too bad either – it’s neat-looking, well priced, and decently equipped.

Renault Clio 1.5 dCi Play 90 ECO

Fuel economy: 91mpg
Price: £16,225

Another French car takes second place, as the Renault Clio – equipped with the brand’s perennial 1.5-litre dCi diesel – achieves an impressive 91mpg on the combined cycle.
The Clio is the supermodel of the supermini class, with curvy lines and a well-laid out interior. It’s not as good to drive as rivals, though, and the interior isn’t the roomiest.

Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi Style 85PS

Fuel economy: 91mpg
Price: £15,245

If you value driving dynamics, this is the car for you – even when equipped with the lowly 83bhp diesel engine, the Fiesta is a great handler. That engine is both smooth and quiet for a diesel, and achieves 91mpg, matching the Clio.
It’s usefully cheaper, though, coming in at £1,000 less than the Clio and more than £1,500 less than the Peugeot. Combine that with good looks and a much-improved interior over the outgoing model, and the Fiesta deserves its spot as one of the best-selling cars in the UK.

Peugeot 308 1.6 BlueHDi Active 120 S&S

Fuel economy: 91mpg
Price: £20,700

That Peugeot can achieve such a huge fuel economy figure from a comparatively large car is testament to the brand’s commitment to efficiency. The 308 is a size class above the superminis already mentioned, but still achieves 91mpg on the combined cycle – and emits just 82g/km.
It’s good-looking, has a big boot and drives well, although the quirky interior won’t be to everyone’s taste. If you want even more room, you could plump for the SW estate model, too. It’s marginally less efficient, but still achieves 88mpg.

Nissan Micra 1.5 dCi Visia

Fuel economy: 88mpg
Price: £14,715

This generation of Nissan Micra heralded a renaissance for the nameplate, ditching the staid and sensible styling of the last model for a much sharper and more striking design. It also added a diesel engine to the line-up for the first time – a 1.5 dCi unit shared with the Renault Clio.
Like the one in the Clio, it’s very efficient, rated at 88mpg and 85g/km of CO2. With a newly premium interior and Nissan’s legendary reliability, the Micra could be the diesel of choice for buyers who want dependability and style in one package.

DS 3 1.6 BlueHDi 100hp S&S

Fuel economy: 86mpg
Price: £18,145

The stylish DS 3 is really a Citroen underneath, which means it shares plenty of its oily bits with Peugeot. That’s why the DS 3 manages an impressive 86mpg, using the same 1.6-litre BlueHDi engine as the Peugeot 208.
Add to that a very stylish three-door body and the DS 3 can be seen as a rival to diesel versions of the Mini or Fiat 500 – but is considerably more economical than either.

Ford Focus 1.5 TDCi Style Econetic

Fuel economy: 85mpg
Price: £17,745

Like the Fiesta, but bigger. The Focus retains Ford’s trademark of excellent handling, but in this form mates that with a 1.5-litre diesel engine, which achieves 85mpg on the combined cycle and emits 88g/km of CO2.
If you need more than the Focus hatchback’s rather stingy boot, you can have an estate model – with identical fuel economy figures – for just £1,100 more.

Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi Tech Line S/S ecoTEC

Fuel economy: 85mpg
Price: £19,955

The latest Vauxhall Astra isn’t much more inspiring than the old model, but it is decent to look at, very well equipped – with OnStar Concierge services as standard – and very economical, thanks to an upgraded version of the ‘Whisper’ diesel engine.
Replacing Vauxhall’s ancient 1.7-litre CDTi engine, the ‘Whisper’ diesel is quiet, refined and powerful enough, and in this form will achieve 85mpg. Fleet bosses up and down the country will be thrilled by its 88g/km CO2 emissions, too.

Mercedes A-Class A180 d SE

Fuel economy: 84mpg
Price: £22,235

You might be turned off by the idea of a Mercedes – even a tiny one – with a Renault-sourced 1.5-litre diesel engine under the bonnet. But don’t be, as you’re still getting Mercedes prestige and build quality – but with fuel economy of 84mpg, you won’t be paying Mercedes prices at the pumps.
Mercedes’ partnership with the Renault-Nissan Alliance gives it use of this engine (the same Alliance which allows Infiniti to use the A-Class platform under its Q30 hatchback) and though it’s not the first partnership you’d think of, it works remarkably well.

Fiat 500 1.3 MultiJet 95HP

Fuel economy: 84mpg
Price: £15,865

The baby of Fiat’s range, the 500 is at its best when fitted with the perky and powerful TwinAir petrol engines – but those are thirsty, often averaging around 30mpg. The 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel, by contrast, manages a claimed 84mpg, and emits just 89g/km.
There are few more fashionable ways to save fuel either, as the Fiat 500 remains an icon even 10 years on from its relaunch. It’s been facelifted to keep it up-to-date with the latest tech, and though it’s not the best to drive, it’s cute, fun, and cost-effective to own.

Honorary mention… Suzuki Celerio 1.0 SZ3 Dualjet

Fuel economy: 80mpg
Price: £9,649

The Celerio isn’t quite up to the fuel economy standards of the rest of this list, but it has its own accolade – it’s the most efficient petrol-powered car in the UK. It’s also the cheapest car on this list by quite a margin.
It’s not attractive, flashy, or particularly good to drive, but the Celerio is about as cheap as motoring gets – and if you do short journeys, it’s definitely a better choice than a diesel.

I’m sure, like most motorists, I haven’t been alone in wondering what it’s like to legally hurtle along a motorway at more than 150mph.

Now, after unintentionally riding shotgun in an unmarked police car to catch a driver who’d failed to stop, I know.

Pursuit

Traffic cop PC Rob Lewis and I are taking a break from an evening pounding the streets of Hampshire, when a voice over the radio reveals an unfolding pursuit.

On the far reaches of the Eastern Roads Policing Unit’s patch – some 32 miles away from where we’re enjoying a much-needed fast food supper – an Audi A3 driver has refused to pull over for a police car.

Scrambled

Traffic cops from across the area have been scrambled to assist with the chase – and that includes us in an unmarked BMW 330d.

The young driver is leading cops on a merry tour of the back roads around Winchester, and he is currently heading south towards the coast, showing no signs of giving up.

Blues and twos

It’s just gone 10pm on a Friday night, so traffic is light as we leave the Eastern RPU base at Havant, Hampshire, and join the usually-heaving M27.

With blues and twos flashing, PC Lewis picks up the pace and we’re soon in the higher rev ranges of the 3 Series. The unmarked car is packed with heavy kit, not to mention myself and a photographer, but yet still quickly tops three figures.

Unmarked car

Traffic melts away in front of us. The unmarked car may by disguised in plain sight when its lights aren’t flashing, but now it’s obvious a police vehicle is fast approaching.

Blue and white LEDs are hidden in the grille, on the dash, in the wing mirrors and behind the numberplate and at night, users wouldn’t even know it was unmarked as it approaches in the fast lane.

Fast approaching

PC Lewis has the radio turned up in the car and we can hear his colleagues reporting the Audi’s latest whereabouts. There are several units involved in the chase now and despite the distance we’ve had to cover, at speeds mostly topping 140mph, we’ve managed to get very close to helping out.

We pull off the M3 near Winchester and PC Lewis informs the police control room he’ll wait in a layby to see if the chase comes his way.

Wrong turn

It soon becomes clear it isn’t. The radio commentary explains the errant Audi has taken a turn off road and is heading towards a small village.

PC Lewis asks us to punch it into Google Maps – we’re a long way out of his usual patch – and we make a series of turns until we’re on the same road as the runaway, heading towards each other.

Crash site

Police control asks us to deploy a Stinger – a device which rapidly deflates all four tyres when thrown in front of the wheels.

PC Lewis says he’ll find a suitable location, but seconds later we hear “he’s crashed, he’s crashed” on the radio.

Just a mile down the road, we find the just-crashed Audi, penned in by another unmarked police car.

Stopped dead

The Audi has mounted a verge, taken out two signs and attempted to get back on the road. In doing so it’s been caught behind a telegraph pole and cops have decided to use their BMW X5 to stop the chase dead.

When we arrive the driver has been arrested. We’re the third car to arrive – after the other unmarked BMW and a dog unit. Four other police cars soon arrive, a sea of flashing blue lights illuminate the crash scene.

Team work

“This was a typical example of team work, county-wide, coordinated by our control room,” explained PC Lewis. “A car that fails to stop can be a serious danger to other road users and needs to be stopped safely.

“We came very close to this coming directly into our path and luckily it ended with no serious injuries.”

Pincer movement

Rushing to the scene, experiencing the immense skill and concentration these officers utilise in their work every day, was quite an experience.

We may not have come into direct contact with the runaway vehicle until the very end, but throughout the 45-minute chase we were engaged in the action on the radio, and by playing our part in a huge pincer movement.

I still can’t quite believe we were lucky enough to be taken a long for the ride.

The new year brings with it the promise of a league of new models, with hybrids, SUVs and hypercars set to grace the market.

Thankfully, there’s one segment that will again see a significant boost in 2018 – hot hatches. Hugely popular in the UK, hot hatches provide thrills and high performance alongside decent practicality levels – making them perfect all-rounders. Here, we’ve picked out seven key contenders due to make their first appearance this year.

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen is much famed in its ability to produce well-rounded, fast and desirable hot hatches. The Polo GTI sits in the middle of the range, between the smaller Up! and larger Golf. However, with close to 200bhp on tap and new, sportier dampers, it’s set to be just as good to drive as its bigger brother.

Looks-wise, the Polo GTI certainly treads on the conservative side of things, but thanks to red exterior highlights and trademark tartan seats, it’s easy to distinguish from the regular car.

Ford Fiesta ST

The previous-generation Ford Fiesta ST will undoubtedly go down as one of the best hot hatches of all time.

This latest version features a new 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and has heightened levels of technology on its side. The sprint to 60mph is claimed to take under seven seconds. Of course, the ST remains a Ford at heart, so expect decent value for money and high levels of standard equipment.

Renault Megane RS

Another key pillar in the hot hatch segment has been the RenaultSport (or now RS) Megane. The new version packs 276bhp from a 1.8-litre engine, and though this may lag somewhat behind other key rivals (most premium hot hatches are now pushing out close to 300bhp), its four-wheel steering should help it keep in the game.

That system should mean that the RS will be one of the most agile sporty Meganes to date.

Suzuki Swift Sport

The Swift Sport is one of the most-loved compact hot hatches ever made, offering nimble handling in a diminutive yet solid-feeling package. This latest version is lighter than ever before – 80kg, in fact – and features a new 1.4-litre turbocharged engine too.

It also benefits from a range of sporty styling touches, including 17-inch alloy wheels and heavily bolstered sports seats. A new six-speed manual gearbox has been fitted, adding an extra cog over the older car’s five-speed ’box.

Toyota Yaris GRMN

Arguably one of the most compact hot hatches set to arrive in 2018, the Toyota Yaris GRMN’s diminutive proportions shouldn’t put you off. Gazoo Racing (Toyota’s motorsport arm) worked extensively on the car, reinforcing the chassis and tuning its 1.8-litre engine to produce more than 210bhp.

It also gets a host of visual tweaks, including 17-inch BBS alloy wheels, heavily bolstered sports seats and a large rear wing. Small in size, the Yaris GRMN is likely to offer a lot of performance.

Mercedes-AMG A45

Sitting at the top of the hot hatch food chain is the Mercedes-AMG A45, and soon there’ll be a new one. Though the previous-generation car was hardly short of poke, this latest version is claimed to push out more than 400bhp through all four wheels.

It’s also set to benefit from the latest cabin architecture from the likes of the E-Class and S-Class, offering a more premium experience for those inside compared with the older model.

Audi S1

Audi’s pocket-rocket S1 was something of a quiet hit for the German brand, offering thrills and a surprising amount of performance in a compact layout. Audi is believed to be releasing a successor towards the latter part of 2018, and it’s likely an S1 variant will accompany it.

The older car’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine pushed it from 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds, so we’d expect the newer S1 to beat that time by some margin.

Car theft is on the up – figures in 2016 indicated a 30 per cent increase over 2013, with the rise blamed on clever gangs of car thieves outwitting sophisticated electronic security measures.

So, with complex keyless entry systems proving a weak point into cars, could a return to more low-tech security measures keep your car and its contents safe from thieves?

Here are our top tips for keeping your car safe – regardless of its age.

Think before you park

Location, location, location. Parking a flash car in a seedy neighbourhood is rarely a good idea, and if you take just a minute to seek out a better spot your car will be much less likely to be nicked.

Try to park in busy, well-lit areas – with CCTV coverage if at all possible. When at home, make use of what you have. If you have a garage, use it. After all, what’s more important – protecting your £150 lawnmower, or your £20,000+ car?

Don’t be lazy

It’s tempting to leave the keys in the ignition and the car unlocked sometimes. Popping out to pay for petrol, defrosting the windscreen in the morning, or just grabbing something from the boot? Always switch off, take the keys and lock the car.

Opportunistic thieves often have their eyes peeled for inattentive owners, and a car with the keys inside is practically an open invitation.

Don’t tempt fate

Do you empty your car every time you use it? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be cautious. Hide valuables out of sight – purses, wallets, laptops or tablets, and especially smartphones or sat-navs.

Place them in a lockable compartment, such as the glove box or the boot, and don’t forget to remove any cradles or holsters – an empty sat-nav holder, or suction rings on the windscreen are a sure sign that there’s a sat-nav hidden in the car.

Store your keys safely

Think about where you put your car keys when you get home. If they’re too close to your front door, they’re an easy target – not to mention thieves can boost keyless systems if they can get close enough, allowing them access to your car.

If you’re really worried, it’s possible to get special pouches which block the signals from your keyless fob, so the car only unlocks when you want it to.

Consider physical security

In the old days, a steering lock was a bright yellow deterrent to theft – opportunistic robbers avoided cars with them fitted, because stealing them would be too noisy and difficult.
The same can apply today. While cheap steering locks are easy to defeat, devices like the award-winning Disklok are impossible to get through without some seriously heavy machinery. They can be bulky to use on a daily driver, but on an occasional or weekend car they’re ideal.

Fit a tracker

GPS trackers used to be expensive and bulky, but new tech means they’re now unobtrusive, inexpensive, and a must-have to protect your precious motors.

A device such as the Oxford Tracker is barely thicker than a pencil, requires no power supply or recharging, and costs just £84 for a 12-month subscription.

Conceal this in your car and regardless of where it ends up, you’ll be able to track it on your smartphone.

Fit an alarm and immobiliser

Most modern cars will have these fitted as standard, but if you’re running an older car without many security measures then they can be worthy investments.

A professionally fitted alarm and immobiliser may not prevent your car from being broken into, but it will dissuade thieves from actually taking it – and may lower your insurance.

Never leave documents or spare keys in a car

Don’t give the criminals everything – if someone does manage to gain access to your car, leaving registration documents or another key just makes the rest of their job even easier.

Keep documents and spare keys in a safe place, and they won’t find the car so easy to offload once the theft is complete.

Over the years, the performance branch of Audi – RS – has produced some iconic, hugely capable road cars.

Benefiting from years of experience generated in rallies, they’ve all provided plenty of performance with all-weather capability.

Audi recently released its latest instalment of the RS bloodline – the RS4 Avant – sparking cries as to which model from history is the best. Here are our top five…

RS2 Avant

One of the earliest members of the RS brand, the RS2 was based on the 80 body style produced back in the 1980s. Co-developed with Porsche, it was powered by a turbocharged 2.2-litre straight-five engine with just over 300bhp.

A direct ancestor of the current RS4 Avant, the RS2 showed what Audi could do with a conventional estate car – the RS2 had an ungoverned top speed of 163mph – while maintaining a real level of practicality too.

RS6 Avant (C7)

The latest RS6 Avant model will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the key vehicles produced by Audi RS. Featuring a turbocharged V8 engine, quattro all-wheel drive and a practical estate body style, it’s the perfect all-rounder – which is why it’s proved so popular.

With the trend towards downsizing apparent in performance cars, it’s unlikely that the next-generation RS6 will have the same engine, which is why this edition needs celebrating all the more.

RS4 Avant (B7)

Though the latest RS4 Avant is something of a technical masterclass, it was the previous-generation model that broke the mould for performance estate cars. The B7 edition RS4 Avant proved that fast Audis needn’t understeer everywhere – it was a proper performance car that could corner, steer and accelerate as well as any BMW.

There were a few complaints – the fuel tank was tiny, for instance – but the overall impressions of the RS4 Avant were impressively positive.

RS6 Saloon (C6)

One of the key aspects that made the C6 RS6 Saloon quite so famous was the engine. Shared with Lamborghini, the 5.0-litre V10 was something that wasn’t usually found in “regular” estate or saloon cars and yet here it was – in a comfortable, five-seater Audi.

Capable of hitting 60mph in under five seconds and able to quickly trouble its 155mph limiter, the RS6 Saloon looked, in truth, a little like a taxi – although true car aficionados knew about its underlying supercar performance.

TTRS

Despite being one of the smallest models in the Audi range, the latest TTRS shows that compact cars needn’t be lacking in performance. The current-generation car features a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine and quattro all-wheel drive, but in a smaller, more road-friendly package.

Though not as practical as some of its estate or saloon stablemates, the TTRS makes up for it with invigorating performance and a turbocharged five-cylinder engine with plenty of character.