121 new cars: F
From the new Ford Focus ST and Transit to the most powerful roadgoing Ferrari ever
On sale: Now
Price: £146,690 (est)
It looks the same as before, but the California has been updated to improve performance. The 4.3-litre V8 gets an extra 30bhp, taking it to 483bhp, plus the car is 30kg lighter than before. A Handling Speciale package with stiffer springs and quicker steering is now offered, too.
Read our first drive of the 2012 California >>
On sale: 2013
Price: £250,000 (est)
The replacement for the 599 is the most powerful roadgoing Ferrari ever, thanks to its new 730bhp 6.3-litre V12 engine. A development of the seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox from the FF, with shorter ratios, helps the F12 Berlinetta blast from 0-62mph in 3.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 211mph. It can also accelerate from 0-124mph in 8.5 seconds. A new aluminium spaceframe means the car weighs 70kg less than the 599 it replaces, plus it’s shorter, lower and narrower. Fuel consumption of 18.8mpg is 3mpg better than the outgoing car’s, and the F12 Berlinetta also comes as standard with magnetic dampers and an electronic differential to help improve the ride and handling.
Watch our video of the F12 Berlinetta at Geneva >>
Fiat 500L
On sale: Late 2012
Price: £13,000 (est)
This replacement for the Multipla wraps the retro styling of the Fiat 500 around a far more practical package. In case you were wondering, the L in the name stands for large. There are five doors, loads of space for at least five passengers and a large boot. At 4.14m in length the 500L is marginally longer than the MINI Countryman – the car it will have to steal sales from to succeed. Fiat says that buyers will be able to choose from two petrol engines – a new 105bhp version of the two-cylinder TwinAir and a 1.4-litre turbo – as well as the familiar 1.3-litre Multijet diesel. The new MPV is based on a modified Panda platform, and can be fitted with five or seven seats. Front-wheel drive will be standard, but a four-wheel-drive option will also be offered.
Watch our video of the 500L at Geneva >>
On sale: Now
Price: From £8,900
Every part of the latest Fiat Panda is new, but the idea is the same – it’s meant to be fun, affordable and practical. The flexible interior provides plenty of space and practicality, with a 225-litre boot and split-folding, sliding rear seats. Thinned-out backrests free up extra rear legroom and the passenger seat folds to form a table. An 84bhp version of the two-cylinder TwinAir engine tops the line-up, but a 1.3 Multijet diesel is also available.
Read our first drive of the new Panda >>
On sale: September
Price: From £12,995
The B-MAX is a small MPV with some very clever ideas. It’s the only car in its class with sliding doors and a pillarless side opening, ensuring access to the rear seats is incredibly easy – and making the Vauxhall Meriva’s rear-hinged doors seem like a bit of a gimmick. To account for the lack of a B-pillar, Ford had to use high-strength boron steel in the construction and develop a latch system to keep the doors in place in the event of an accident. The B-MAX will also offer class-leading efficiency, with the 119bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol model emitting 114g/km and returning 57.6mpg. The 94bhp 1.6 TDCi diesel is even cleaner, though, with 104g/km of CO2 and 70.6mpg economy.
Ford Fiesta ST
On sale: 2013
Price: £17,500 (est)
Ford is hoping to topple the Renaultsport Clio with its new Fiesta ST hot hatch. It’s powered by a 178bhp 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine that delivers 0-62mph in under seven seconds and a top speed of 136mph. The chassis has been honed by Ford’s Team RS at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany, while the car features torque vectoring – which sends power to the wheel that needs it the most – plus 15mm lower suspension and a three-stage ESP system. Inside, the Fiesta ST gets Recaro sports seats, plus a sports steering wheel, gearlever and ST badging. It also boasts MyKey, which allows owners to limit the performance on offer when less experienced drivers are at the wheel.
Watch our video of the new Fiesta ST at Geneva >>
Ford Focus BEV
On sale: December
Price: £32,000 (est)
The Focus BEV – that’s Battery Electric Vehicle – is Ford’s first all-electric car. That means the internal combustion engine in this Nissan Leaf rival has been replaced by lithium-ion batteries and a 74bhp electric motor. The 100-mile range is roughly the same as in the Leaf, but the Ford takes half as long to charge from a 240V socket, at four hours. Plus, a phone app allows owners to check charge status remotely, as well as locate the car via GPS, lock the doors and set the cabin temperature.
Ford Focus EcoBoost
On sale: Now
Price: £16,245
The 98bhp three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost Focus has the power of the old 1.6-litre it replaces, but returns 58.9mpg and 109/km C02. Fuel-saving tech includes direct injection and dual variable cam timing, and it’s also available in 123bhp form.
Read our first drive of the Focus EcoBoost >>
Ford Focus ECOnetic
On sale: June
The most fuel-efficient Focus mates a 104bhp 1.6-litre turbodiesel to a six-speed manual box. Stop-start, an active grille shutter and an energy-efficient alternator combine with a smooth underbody and wheel covers to deliver 80mpg and 89g/km of CO2 in this five-door hatch.
Read our first drive of the Focus ECOnetic >>
Ford Focus ST
On sale: September
Price: £24,000 (est)
The 248bhp hot turbo Focus has arrived – and it won’t disappoint. The old five-cylinder has been replaced with a more efficient four-cylinder, while the ST sits 10mm lower on 18-inch alloys and has firmer suspension and sharper steering than the rest of the range.
Ford Focus ST Estate
On sale: September
Price: £25,500 (est)
The Focus ST Estate has all the grunt of the hatch but far more space. It uses the same 248bhp 2.0-litre engine and should do 0-62mph in a little over 6.5 seconds. The boot has 476 litres of space with the seats up. Fold them flat, and this expands to a maximum of 1,502 litres.
On sale: 2013
Price: £21,000 (est)
The new Kuga is much bigger inside than the old model to answer customers criticisms, plus it’s wrapped in a sharp body. The dash and touchscreen are lifted from the Focus and C-MAX, while features include an auto tailgate that rises if you wave your foot under the bumper. The efficient Ford EcoBoost 1.6-litre petrol engines will be available, while the big sellers will be the three 2.0-litre diesels, offering 114bhp, 138bhp and 161bhp.
Watch our video of the new Kuga at Geneva >>
Ford Tourneo
On sale: 2013
Price: From £18,000 (est)
Although the Tourneo concept is a minibus, it actually previews the all-new Transit. There’s a Focus-inspired interior, Lane Departure warning, a rear view camera and six airbags. The Tourneo is powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel with 98bhp, 123bhp or 153bhp.
