NewCars:For the 2007 season Motoring editor Michael McAleeroutlines the new models coming our way in the coming months
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
Unlikely to be a big seller in Irish forecourts, the Italian supercar has won plaudits for its design. Built in left-hand-drive format only, and with only 500 being built a year, there are rumours that at least one of the 450bhp 8Cs is bound for an Irish buyer.
Audi A3 Cabriolet
Amid the frenzy of hard-top coupés coming on the market, it's good to see Audi is sticking with a rag-top format.
That will please those fans who mourn the passing of the VW Golf soft-top and had only the Eos to console themselves with.
Audi A5 and S5
As driven on page 5, this is the Germans' four-seater coupé derived from the A4. Launched at the Geneva motor show earlier in the year, it's due on these shores in July. Prices start at €60,850 for the 2.7 TDI 190bhp diesel and €64,900 for the 3.2-litre 265bhp V6 petrol.
Audi Q5
Following on from the successful launch of the Q7 behemoth, Audi is launching its smaller - if not quite suburban-friendly - Q5. Aimed to take on the likes of the BMW X3 and Land Rover Freelander, it will be the premium level version of VW's Tiguan. Expect an introduction at Frankfurt motor show.
BMW 1-Series coupé
We already published images of the car being prepped for its new TV adverts. Aimed at winning back fans who think the new 3-Series car is too big and bulky for a true fun-loving coupé, this 1-Series derivative will offer much sharper handling. A soft-top version is also planned. Both cars are due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in October, with arrival here at the end of the year.
BMW 6-Series facelift
A minor facelift of the current 6-Series is due to be shown at Frankfurt in October. Engines are likely to change, in line with other model adjustments and feature improved fuel consumption and lower emissions. A new six-speed manual gearbox is also likely.
BMW M3 coupé
Due to go on sale here in September, this performance variant is powered by a 420bhp V8 engine. Taking its cue from the CSL version of the outgoing model, the new M3 is the first full production car in its class to feature a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic roof panel with exposed weave. The new car is priced at €103,850.
Cadillac's new CTS
Regarded as the rival to the likes of the BMW 5-Series, the CTS latest version was launched at Detroit earlier this year. It's due here in right-hand-drive format later in the year, but it still doesn't seem to have a diesel version in its ranks. That will seriously limit sales in a market increasingly dominated by diesel.
Chevrolet Captiva
It's been a long time coming, but Chevrolet's soft-roader will finally break cover later this summer. It will be based on the Opel Antara.
Citroën C5
It's uncertain when a new version of the family saloon will make it to market, but some form of the next generation is likely to be shown at the Frankfurt motor show in October, with the new generation likely to enter the market in early 2008. Suggestions are that it will take its design cues from the styling of the C6 and certainly the rear of the car will get a major revamp, though the front will still carry a prominent chevron badge.
Daihatsu Charade
A new generation of the Japanese city car is expected in the coming months, though details remain quite vague at present.
Fiat 500
The launch date is July 4th, exactly 50 years after the original small Fiat entered the world markets. Images of the new car are already released and it's likely to be a serious rival to the Mini if the Italians get the build quality and price right. It's being built in Poland alongside the Panda, and shares its platform with Ford's next generation Ka. Engines will range from a 69bhp 1.2-litre to a 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol, with a diesel option in the form of a 75bhp 1.3-litre multijet diesel.
Fiat Bravo
Already tested on these pages, the replacement for the lacklustre Stilo will arrive in the coming months. If the Grande Punto heralded the new face of Fiat, then the new Bravo is the finished product. There will only be a five-door version on offer, but a convertible is rumoured. Prices are unconfirmed but expect them to start at about €20,000.
Ford Mondeo
Due to debut in Irish showrooms in June, the new car receives its first drive review in this edition.
Hyundai i30
Similar in looks and capability to its Korean sibling, the Kia Cee'd, the i30 is the hatchback competitor that's setting its sights on the likes of VW Golf and Opel's Astra.
It has a good specification and will be competitively priced when it comes to market in the coming months.
Next up from the Koreans will be a replacement for its Atoz city car.
Expect to see this replacement at Frankfurt's motor show in October.
Mazda2
The Japanese brand has seriously reworked its supermini and brought the previously boxy version in line with the smoother styling of the rest of the range. Revealed at the Geneva motor show earlier this year it will be powered by a choice of 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines and a 1.4-litre diesel.
Mazda CX-7
Due for a mid-summer launch, this SUV crossover has been a long time coming. First launched last year on the US market, it finally makes its way to Europe later this year, powered by a 2.3-litre petrol. A diesel version will not be released until next year.
Mercedes C-Class
Along with styling cues from the new S-Class, the new C-Class will also feature a new Avantgarde look aimed at attracting younger buyers.
The German premium brand has worked hard at ironing out any potential niggles, with over three million test miles put up on the cars before launch.
While it is due for an Irish launch next month, that will only feature the 3-litre diesel in the C320 CDI and the 3.5-litre petrol C350. Neither will sell more than a handful on the Irish market. The real impact of the new C-Class will take effect when the full range of three turbodiesel engines and five petrols arrive later in the year. The C180 Kompressor and C200 CDI - firm favourites among Irish buyers - are both due for launch in Ireland by October.
Mini Clubman
It has featured in many concept guises up until now, but the Mini estate will finally make its appearance on the market by the end of the year.
Nissan Tiida
When Nissan decided to replace the outgoing Almera, it opted to launch three different cars in its price segment. The first was the Nissan Note, the next the Qashqai crossover and finally here is the more traditional hatchback/saloon. Powered by similar engines to the other two variants, the Tiida will debut in Irish showrooms later this month.
Peugeot 308
Photographed on the front of last week's Motors supplement, the new Peugeot is likely to arrive by year-end in time for 2008 sales.
Peugeot 4007
It's the French take on Mitsubishi's new Outlander, and shares much in the way of powertrain and systems. Powered by PSA's 2.2-litre diesel engine the new car will go on sale here later in the year.
Renault Laguna
While the new Ford Mondeo will steal much of the early summer limelight, expect more attention to focus on the new French family car later in the year. Available in hatchback and estate, there are also plans for a three-door coupé version later in the lifecycle that will take on the likes of the Peugeot 407 coupé. Engines will start with a 1.6-litre petrol.
Renault Scenic Conquest
Three years after its demise, Renault's off-road crossover - the Scenic RX4 - is succeeded by the Scenic Conquest. While it won't challenge the likes of the Land Rover Defender in off-road ability, the clear aim is to tap some of the love affair with SUV looks, while staying realistic to the daily uses of these vehicles in urban areas.
Arriving on the Irish market later this month, it will feature 1.6-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines.
Renault Twingo
After years of left-hand-drive European sales, the Twingo is finally making its way to these shores in right-hand-drive and will go on sale in Ireland in September.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Like its Audi counterpart - the upcoming Q5 - VW is looking to appeal to the soft-roader market with a compact SUV crossover based on Golf underpinnings. It takes its look from the Touareg, although it will be significantly smaller in stature.
Saab 9-3
A new look for the Swede sees some design cues carried over from the front of the Aero-X concept, while at the rear LED lights are a feature.
The usual array of saloon, convertible and estate will be offered and in keeping with Sweden's fondness for bioethanol, it has been reported that all its 2-litre petrol engines will run on E85.
Subaru Impreza
The big news from this Japanese marque is that it has finally developed a diesel engine in-house.
It's a 2-litre turbocharged unit that will be sold alongside the usual array of petrol power units. The new model is aimed at taking more sales from the likes of the VW Golf and Audi A3, so the hatchback version is probably going to be marketed more heavily than its saloon counterpart. A WRX version is due next year.