Audi A3

While Audi’s testers put the finishing touches to the A3 Cabriolet, its engineers have been busy with the standard hatch. The result is the arrival of two economical new powerplants: a 103bhp 1.9 TDI, which returns 62.7mpg, and a 123bhp 1.4-litre TFSI petrol.

The former is available from £16,660, and emits only 119g/km of CO2. Meanwhile, the 1.4 TFSI replaces the naturally aspirated 1.6 FSI, and is more than a second faster from 0-60mph. It now takes 9.6 seconds, but the car returns 43.5mpg. The 1.4 is the third unit to use Audi’s TFSI technology, joining the 1.8 and 2.0-litre. Prices start from £16,365.