121 new cars: N to P
Everything from the Nissan Invitation concept and new Peugeot 208, to the 700bhp Pagani Huayra with its 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds
Nissan e-NV200
On sale: 2013
Price: £25,000 (est)
The petrol NV200 was recently chosen as the next New York cab – and this is an all-electric version which uses mechanicals from the Leaf. It looks like the Leaf, too, with its blue paint and charging port in the nose. Power comes from a 110bhp electric motor.
Nissan Hi-Cross
On sale: 2013
Price: From £28,000 (est)
Nissan has given us a glimpse of its future SUVs with the Hi-Cross concept. Its curvy lines and chunky dimensions preview the next X-Trail, due in 2013, but the design language is also a hint at how the next Qashqai and Murano crossovers could look.
Nissan Invitation
On sale: 2013
Price: £12,500 (est)
This striking car is the next Nissan Note in concept form, and it represents a good news story for the UK motor industry. Nissan has announced the model will be built at its Sunderland plant alongside the Juke, and is targeting annual production of 100,000 cars – creating 400 jobs at the factory and another 600 through the supply chain. The five-door hatch has a more exciting design than the old supermini-MPV, with sharp creases and angular lines, and Nissan is promising class-leading economy and emissions. Expect the new Note to come with an engine range that’s similar to its predecessor’s – meaning 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines, as well as a 1.5-litre diesel emitting less than 100g/km of CO2.
Nissan Juke Nismo
On sale: Autumn
Price: £25,000 (est)
The pumped-up Juke is the first in a series of sporty Nismo models from Nissan. The 1.6-litre turbo engine gets a power hike from 187bhp to 220bhp, and the car has an aggressive bodykit. Nissan has confirmed production will begin at its Sunderland plant in mid-2012.
Pagani Huayra
On sale: Spring
Price: £1,000,000 (est)
The Huayra supercar makes a Lamborghini look plain. Gullwing doors allow access to a hand-crafted interior, while it boasts a 700bhp 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 which fires the carbon fibre Pagani from 0-60mph in only 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 235mph.
On sale: June
Price: From £9,995 (est)
At 70mm shorter and 110kg lighter than the 207 it replaces, the Peugeot 208 is being touted as the spiritual successor to the much-loved 205. Yet despite shrinking and losing weight, the 208 actually offers more space inside than the 207 did: the 285-litre boot is 15 litres bigger. There are four trim levels, plus three diesel engines and five petrol engines. The most notable are a pair of new three-cylinder petrol engines with sub-100g/km CO2 emissions.
Peugeot 208 GTi
On sale: Late 2012
Price: £18,000 (est)
Ever since the 205 GTi from the eighties, Peugeot has been trying to rediscover its hot-hatch form, and many believe this is the car to do it. The 208 GTi certainly has all the ingredients. It’s lighter than the 207, and gets the 197bhp 1.6 THP engine from the most powerful version of the RCZ. A wider track, lowered suspension and bigger brakes should ensure it stops and turns just as well as its main rival – the Ford Fiesta ST.
Peugeot 208 XY
On sale: 2013
Price: From £20,000 (est)
The XY concept is a luxurious take on the new 208 – demonstrating some of the high-quality options buyers will be able to order. It’s covered in 16 layers of paint, and gets 18-inch alloys and a new three-bar grille. Inside, there’s stitched leather on the dashboard.
Peugeot 4008
On sale: 2013 (est)
Price: £17,000 (est)
Peugeot’s answer to the Nissan Qashqai is mechanically identical to the Mitsubishi ASX and Citroen C4 Aircross, but its styling is inspired by the HR1 concept seen at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. It will sit below the 4007, but Peugeot has yet to confirm it’s coming here.
Peugeot 508 RXH
On sale: May
Price: £33,695
The 508 RXH is the new flagship of the Peugeot range. It’s based on the 508 SW, but rides 50mm higher and has a 40mm wider track. There’s also extra plastic cladding, underbody protection and distinctive triple LED lights in the front bumper. The diesel-electric powertrain is shared with the 3008 HYbrid4, so a 163bhp HDi engine drives the front wheels and a 37bhp electric motor turns the rear axle. The set-up gives 450Nm of torque, plus 68.9mpg economy and 107g/km of CO2.
Read our first drive of the Peugeot 508 RXH >>
Pininfarina Cambiano
On sale: N/A
Price: N/A
When Pininfarina, Ferrari’s favourite design house, builds a concept, you can be sure it will be a stunner – and the Cambiano is no exception. It’s a hybrid saloon with coupe styling and Pininfarina says it’s production-ready if any manufacturer wants to buy it.
On sale: Now
Price: £37,589
The Boxster has been completely overhauled, with a longer wheelbase and wider track – although the styling is as familiar as ever. The entry-level 2.9-litre flat- six engine is replaced by a smaller 2.7-litre, yet power has climbed by 10bhp to 261bhp. The Boxster S sticks with its 3.4-litre flat-six, but gains an extra 5bhp, taking its total to 311bhp. The standard Boxster sprints from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds – a tenth faster than the old car – while the Boxster S takes five seconds exactly. The result of all those upgrades is a car that can lap the famous Nurburgring race track 12 seconds quicker than its predecessor. The Boxster is also more usable, with greater comfort and a cabin that’s 50 per cent quieter with the roof up.
