Audi A3 Cabriolet

Introduction

Introduced back in 2008, the A3 Cabriolet effectively created its own class of compact executive cabriolets but nowadays it rivals the BMW 2 Series Convertible as well as other less premium models.

The 2nd generation of 2014 had very little aesthetic upgrades but went on a diet, losing some 50 kg. Very slight adjustments were made to the dimensions, although its footprint grew and height shrunk slightly.

Powertrain

Being such a stylish car, there are plenty of petrol options to give it some pace. The entry-level 1.4 TFSI produces an impressive 150 horsepower and 250 Nm, but thanks to its cylinder-on-demand technology it's able to reach 55 mpg (give or take) in both the 6-speed manual and 7-speed S tronic automatic models.

The top-of-the-range variant combines the 180 hp and 280 Nm of the 1.8 TFSI engine with quattro all-wheel-drive in order to give it a 0-62 mph time of 7.6 seconds. It will struggle to reach 40 mpg though. It's only available with a 6-speed S tronic automatic transmission.

But welcome to the 21st century where diesel power is our favoured fuel, in the name of economy and efficiency. Kicking off the range is a 1.6 TDI - 110 hp and 250 Nm, yet nearly 70 mpg.

The 2.0-litre TDI comes in many forms, producing 150 and 184 hp combined with 240 and 380 Nm. All get to 62 mph in less than 9 seconds and will do 55-65 mpg.

There are no cars that emit less than 100 g/km of CO2, so no tax-free motoring here!

My pick of the bunch would be the 150 hp variant of the 2.0 TDI as it has adequate power for overtaking but is a sensible cruiser and economy figures are admirable.

There's even a hot S3 Cabriolet with 300 hp and 380 Nm coming from a 2.0 TFSI. Power is driven through a quattro system and 62 mph is reached in a respectable 5.4 seconds. It goes on to 155 mph but still claims to achieve near 40 mpg, although 30 mpg is a more realistic figure.

In-Cabin Experience

Being part of the A3 family, the dash is more or less lifted from the A3 hatchback which is no bad thing. The minimalist design and pop-up infotainment screen are highly desirable, but it's practical to use. I'm not a fan of the cruise control stalk - it's a bit awkward to reach below the wheel. The electronic handbrake and roof operation switch work well together and are within quick access.

There is a 320-litre boot which shrinks to 287 litres with the roof stored, but you can uncover 678 litres upon folding down the seats. The quattro models lose some boot space due to the complex mechanics that take up space around the rear wheels.

Equipment and Options

There are 3 trim lines plus a unique S3 model, but despite this all models are well-equipped. Every single model comes with an electronic parking brake with auto release function, alloy wheels, a 5.8-inch infotainment display, Bluetooth, DAB radio and air conditioning.

If you climb up the trim levels, you can enjoy features such as the sports suspension, front sports seats and dual-zone climate control of Sport, or the 18-inch alloys, xenon headlights and S bodystyling of the S line.

The S3 gets the mandatory aggressive styling, giant 19-inch alloys and Nappa leather upholstery.

There is a total of 11 alloy wheel designs from 16 to 19 inches, 6 inlay finishes, 16 body colours and 3 roof colours (black, grey and brown) although you can have literally any body colour you want for over £2,000.

The £690 Comfort package adds cruise control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rear parking sensors and a wind deflector. You could alternatively change your headlights to xenon or LED for £1,100 or £1,850, although the Technology package for £1,495 makes more sense. It adds satellite navigation, a 7-inch display and a 10GB hard drive. The necessary Bang & Olufsen sound system is £750 and brings with it 13 speakers through a 5.1 output. Keyless entry and go comes in at £425 and is essential.

Safety

All cars come with an active roll-over prevention system, an electronically locking differential and an adaptive brake light which flashes under the circumstances of an emergency stop, with the hazards coming on at the end of the braking.

The A3 hatchback on which the Cabriolet is based achieved a full 5-star rating in its Euro NCAP testing.

Rivals

As we've already touched upon, the new BMW 2 Series Convertible is Audi's main cause for concern. It's just £200 more expensive and is much more appealing for drivers seeking rear-wheel-drive thrill. It's offered with 3 states of tune for the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel unit (218d, 220d and 225d) as well as 2 petrols, the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder 218i and the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder 220i and 228i. There's even a 326 horsepower 3-litre straight-six M235i (which is 0.2 s faster than the S3 to 62 mph). It doesn't end there! Within the past week the 370 hp BMW M2 has been released! Could this mean an M2 Convertible any time soon?

Entering back into the accessible market, Volkswagen's Golf Cabriolet is almost £4,000 cheaper. Something a bit different, though, would be the Vauxhall Cascada which costs some £1,500 less.

My Car

If I were to buy an A3 Cabriolet, I wouldn't be able to help myself but go crazy on the options list! All I need now is £38k!

Audi A3 Cabriolet Configuration

Mercedes B-Class

Introduction

If you’re in the market for a 5-seat MPV, you’re spoiled for choice. But narrow that search down to premium brands and you only have 2 options. The brand new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer or today’s car for discussion, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class.

Introduced back in mid-2005, the B-Class was essentially the first premium MPV and at the time looked like a big A-Class and a small R-Class before they all parted ways. In late 2011 the 2^nd generation B-Class was released bearing a complete redesign. Late last year the 2^nd generation B-Class received its first major facelift which brought new bumpers, additional chrome detailing and, for the first time, integrated DRLs (daytime running lights). Optional equipment like keyless go, full LED headlights and the option for a larger infotainment display were also added. The pricetag was refreshed too, costing just under £22,000.

Powertrain

If you still favour petrol power you have 2 options, both utilising a 1.6-litre unit. The B200 is what stands out the most with adequate acceleration and running costs not too dissimilar from the B180. Saying that, with 34 less horsepower and 50 less Newton metres of torque, the B180 doesn’t ask to be driven as heavy-footedly and therefore is more likely to obtain an mpg figure closer to what Mercedes claims.

Step over to diesel and you’ll be greeted with the entry-level 1.5-litre B180d. It’s the least powerful in the whole line-up with only 109 horsepower, but is said to achieve 70.6 mpg however a figure closer to 55 would reflect real-world driving better. All other diesels use a 2.1-litre engine. The B200d offers a 9.4 second 0-62 mph sprint time yet returns 67.3 mpg, but the more potent 177 horsepower B220d uses 350 Newton metres of torque to achieve exactly the same economy figure. It’s also available as a 4MATIC four-wheel-drive variant, but who needs this on a family MPV? And who would be willing to see a drop in mpg by 10.8 in favour of more grip?

All cars apart from the B220d and B220d 4MATIC are available with Mercedes’ 7G-DCT 7-speed automatic transmission but are specced as standard with a 6-speed manual, whereas the aforementioned models are available solely with the 7G-DCT.

My pick of the bunch would be the B200d with more than enough power for cruising and running costs that won’t break the bank.

Additionally, there’s a B-Class Electric Drive, which as the name suggests is an EV (electric vehicle). With a range of 124 miles and a 0-62 mph time of 7.9 s and the capability of going on to a top speed of 99.5 mph. It produces 180 horsepower and 340 Newton metres but is treated as a different car rather than an engine choice. It costs just over £32,000.

In-Cabin Experience

It’s easy enough for the driver to get comfortable behind the wheel and all-round visibility is great making town manoeuvres such a parking a lot easier. The soft suspension works wonders in city driving but can feel a bit flimsy out on the motorway, but this can be forgiven as there’s very little wind and road noise.

The 486-litre boot is as useable as it sounds thanks to a low load lip and a wide opening. If you fold down the 60:40 split folding rear seats you have 1,545 litres to play around with as you wish. Being such a tall vehicle it’s easy to carry awkwardly shaped and taller items.

My main issue is the centre console layout. The heating controls and awkwardly placed towards the bottom and certain buttons are hard to press due to their size and shape, meaning that you’ll have to familiarise yourself with the layout so as not to need to take your eyes off the road when driving.

Equipment and Options

Standard equipment across the range is very generous as you would expect from a Mercedes. All cars have a space saving electronic parking break and the automatic models favour a column change setup as opposed to a traditional stick.

Outside, alloy wheels, body coloured door handles, mirrors and bumpers are always present showing no sign of cost cutting, and automatic headlights and a reversing camera further entice potential buyers to the technological world of Mercedes.

The heated windscreen washer system sounds cool but would rarely be appreciated by the driver, but the automatically activated rear windscreen wiper when the car is in reverse is certainly a helpful feature.

Entry-level SE has 16-inch alloys, halogen headlights, a 7-inch infotainment display, THERMATIC air conditioning and a 12-button multifunction leather steering wheel.

Mid-range Sport ups the alloys to 17 inches and the infotainment display to 8 inches and also upgrades to a THERMATRONIC luxury automatic climate control which in turn lessens the effect of the awkwardly placed controls. DYNAMIC SELECT is also standard with ECO, Comfort, Sport and Individual modes, and the windscreen wipers become automatic.

Top-of-the-range AMG Line has 18-inch alloys, the necessary AMG bodystyling, carbon fibre and aluminium trim and sports steering. It’s also lowered by 20 mm at the front and 15 mm at the rear.

The Executive package, welcomingly priced at £995, adds heated front seats, PARKTRONIC Active Parking Assist and Garmin MAP PILOT satellite navigation (which is £495 alone).

If you’re after a high-end sound system, the Harman Kardon Logic 7 costs £680, and you can even specify Apple CarPlay for £250.

Safety

As it’s a family MPV, child safety is of upmost importance. That’s why there’s an automatic child seat recognition sensor and ISOFIX fittings on the two outermost rear seats. Among the plethora of acronyms are some standout features like COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, adaptive Brake Assist with Hill Start Assist and speed-sensitive automatic door locking.

It may come as no surprise then, that the B-Class was awarded a full 5-star rating the its Euro NCAP test and was a class leader in 2011. Other cars worth considering though is the 2014’s class leader, the VW Golf SV, 2013’s Kia Carens, 2012’s Ford B-Max and Fiat 500L and 2010’s Toyota Verso.

But if you do have any doubt in the back of your mind when driving the B-Class, you can always rely on the 3-year unlimited-mileage warranty.

Rivals

As we’ve already discussed, the BMW 2 Series active Tourer is the B-Class’ main competitor. With an economical range of 3- and 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, it’s able to compete strongly against Mercedes. The top-end 220d and 225i are even available with xDrive all-wheel-drive if that’s your thing. The BMW does come at a £1,185 premium though.

If the desirable badge isn’t of great importance to you but you still like the German way of doing thigs, Volkswagen’s Golf SV is £2,620 cheaper and uses technology that is just as impressive.

The Renault Scenic (£2,460 cheaper than the B-Class) and Citroën C4 Picasso (£3,555 cheaper) are equally as good at doing what they’re designed to do, but do not hold the title of luxury meaning they will not hold on to their value as well.

My Car

Here is how I would spec my Mercedes-Benz B-Class:

Mercedes B-Class Configuration

What's the deal with VW? What do I do?

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (VAG) has already set aside €6.5 billion in order to deal with the major dieselgate uproar and its 11 million affected cars, but what does this mean for both VAG and us, the consumer?

The Bosch-developed defeat device was used in the EA 189 EU5-compliant diesel engines. This means the gadget activates under test conditions and temporarily cuts fuel emission figures so they do not reflect those of the real world - this explains how it has not been picked up in MOT tests.

Cars fitted with the software are perfectly safe to drive and do not cause any reason for concern, therefore they can continue to be driven. Despite this, it is thought that in the long run VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat could recall affected vehicles for an engine re-map or a software update.

Audi has a Germany-only website where owners can input their car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to check whether the engine implies the manipulative apparatus. It’ll be a worldwide feature in the coming weeks. Good news (well, let’s step back and look at the situation, it’s not great news!) if you own a Volkswagen, their VIN checker is up and running here.

It’s important to note that V6 and V8 TDI engines are not part of the scandal, and as a result VAG-owned Porsche has come out unscathed. The recent EU6-compliant engines are free from cheating devices too.

Over the pond, VW USA has removed most TDI (diesel) engines from its website hinting that the repair time could be a lot longer than anticipated.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), PSA (Peugeot and Citroën), BMW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz and Smart), Ford, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Renault-Nissan have all stated that their engines comply with regulations, and FCA even proudly announced that it fully supports the EU’s efforts and works along side it so that its figures more accurately reflect real-world figures.

For VAG on the other hand, Australia could fine the German automobile empire millions of dollars after the chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claimed that the device is prohibited and that environmental claims such as CO2 emissions affect consumers and on that account can mislead buyers.

Authorities in Switzerland have also placed a ban on select diesel cars from the VW group which utilise the 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 TDI engines.

Credit Suisse estimates that it could cost the company up to €78 billion, although more conservative estimates place it at around €23 billion.

To further complicate matters, VAG recently announced that it’s unsure whether European-spec cars even used the defeat device in the first place!

Nevertheless, if you own any of the following cars, it’s worth doing some investigating.

Volkswagen

• Beetle
• CC
• Eos
• Golf
• Jetta
• Passat
• Scirocco
• Sharan
• Tiguan
• Touran

Audi

• A1
• A3
• A4
• A5
• A6
• Q3
• Q5
• TT

Škoda

• Octavia
• Superb
• Yeti

SEAT

• Alhambra
• Altea
• Exeo
• Leon

Snippet of the Frankfurt Motor Show

That's right,  it's time for the Frankfurt Motor Show once again. And with the show just around the river bend, let's take a look at some of the cars that are going to make an appearance.

Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo Giulia has been popping up increasingly regularly over the last few months, but despite this, we only know details about the Quadrifoglio Verde model. Its 3.0-litre bi-turbo petrol V6 produces 503 bhp making it good for 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds. The Giulia will come as rear- or all-wheel-drive models with automatic and manual transmission available. It boasts a 50:50 weight distribution and plans to steal some of the BMW M3's thunder.

Alpina

The Germany-based BMW tuners have changed their D3 Biturbo inkeeping with BMW's new 3 Series. It keeps the 3.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, producing 345 bhp and 700 Nm. Thanks to a slick 8-speed automatic transmission, the 0-62 mph time is 4.6 seconds for both the Saloon and Touring models. CO2 emissions are 139 and 142 g/km respectively, and whilst the saloon comes in at £47k, there's a £3,000 premium for the Touring.

Audi

The Audi A4 has been redesigned, head to toe, and as always the saloon model will be joined by an estate. Engines come in the form of a 1.4 TFSI, a 2.0 TFSI, a 2.0 TDI and a range-topping 3.0-litre V6 diesel which takes 5.3 seconds to reach 62 mph. Front-wheel-drive and quattro® all-wheel-drive are your options, although the 1.4 TFSI is strictly FWD. Ultra models will be the best sellers among motorway cruisers thanks to their improved fuel efficiency, partially aided by the 120 kg maximum weight drop and a 0.23 drag coefficient value. Prices kick off at £26,000.

An e-tron quattro concept uses 3 electric motors and a lithium-ion battery to achieve a 310-mile range. The all-wheel-drive coupé SUV rivals BMW's X6 and Mercedes-Benz's GLE Coupé, but most importantly the Tesla Model X and hints towards a future Q6.

Bentley

We've waited what seems like years, but finally, Bentley's SUV has been announced. The Bentayga will be attending the Frankfurt Motor Show. The £160k price tag and the 600 bhp, 900 Nm W12 engine all scream high-end luxury, but down-to-earth diesels and a plug-in hybrid are on the horizon too.

BMW

Arriving in showrooms in November, BMW's most luxurious 7 Series will be priced from a touch under £65,000, with the options of a single petrol (740Li) and two diesels (730Ld and 730d, with the latter available as an xDrive AWD model). The 740e will be previewed at the Frankfurt Motor Show, though.

A second-generation BMW X1 comes in at £28k, and with three diesels and one petrol available, its transition from rugged estate to baby SUV helps it take on Audi's Q3 and Mercedes-Benz's new GLC. The xDrive20d will be the best-seller, according to experts.

As part of a facelifted 3 Series range, the 330e comes a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit with an electric motor which is built into its 8-speed automatic transmission. A whole 248 bhp and 420 Nm are driving through the rear wheels, and despite only having a 41-litre fuel tank, BMW claims the 330e can travel up to 370 miles.

Another new hybrid comes in the form of the 225xe. The all-wheel-drive car uses a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol unit and a scaled-down version of the i3's electric motor mated to the rear wheels to produce a system output of 221 bhp and 385 Nm. It can travel up to 25 miles in electric-only mode and at speeds of up to 77 mph, but when in full-hybrid mode it will emit as low as 46 g/km of CO2.

Borgward

The German auto manufacturer makes a return with its BX7 SUV which goes on sale in China early next year and then in Europe later on. Taking on the other German compact SUVS (Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC), the BX7 will use a 2.0-litre 221 bhp 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit. Also on offer will be a 296 bhp hybrid with a range of up to 34 miles in electric-only mode.

Bugatti

With the number '16' on its grille, the Vision Gran Turismo concept is thought to be a proud user of a W16 engine, just like its Veyron sibling. This concept is to be used in the Gran Turismo 6 video game, but hints at Bugatti's future.

Citroën

The Citroën Cactus M concept is a throw back to the Méhari buggy. Its 1.2-litre PureTech 110 petrol engine mated to a 6-speed automatic 'box helps it achieve the claimed figures of 58.9 mpg and 110 g/km of CO2. Could there be a convertible Cactus on the way?

DS

PSA's upmarket sub-brand DS has finally made the move and taken the DS4 from Citroën to become just the 4. DS's 4 has received some minor tweaks, including a new grille with DS badging, extracting all Citroën badges altogether.

The DS 4 Crossback adds grey roof bars and more off-roady looks to set it apart from its hatchback counterpart.

Ferrari

Ferrari's 488 Spider uses the same 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 at its hard-top GTB brother to produce 660 bhp and 760 Nm. Its 0-62 mph sprint time remains unchanged, at 3.0 seconds. Its likely to come at a £20k premium, and although the roof disappears in 14 seconds, it must be done when stationary.

Fiat

The Fiat 500 facelift includes 1,800 changes. Apparently. The most obvious are a tweaked front end, reworked tail lights and a new dashboard. And yes, the Fiat 500 now has a glovebox. The new 500C comes with a £2,650 premium, but the standard 500 is available for less than £11,000. It's already on sale.

Ford

As part of the firm's 'One Ford' strategy, Ford is introducing its full-sized Edge SUV, already a successful car over the pond. It'll be on sale as of 2016 and with a sub-£30k price tag it's set to take on Volvo's XC60 and Land Rover's Discovery Sport.

A complete redesign gives the Ford Ranger a better chance against the Volkswagen Amarok and Nissan Navara (renamed NP300 Navara, see under Nissan section). Its 198 bhp 3.2-litre 5-cylinder Duratorq diesel powerplant sees an 18% cut in fuel consumption and the 128 bhp engine sees an even better improvement of 22%. The 2.2-litre 158 bhp unit has a similar treatment. With a proper low-range gearbox, switchable four-wheel-drive and a locking rear differential, the Ranger is a proper workhorse. It will wade through water as deep as 80 cm and tow up to 3,500 kg.

Honda

The Project 2&4 concept features a cabinless design, boasting a floating seat. It uses the RC213V motorcycle 999cc engine to produce 212 bhp. A 6-speed dual clutch transmission, a kerb weight of 405 kg and a red line of 14,000 rpm are some of the things that suggest that this car is one to be thrashed, a rival of the Caterham 620R and the Ariel Atom.

The second concept that Honda will bring along is the Civic Tourer Active Life. It incorporates a smart bike loading rack for 2 bikes to be housed in the cabin with access through the boot, which in turn has a built-in extendable shade, an inbuilt light and a retractable bench so that owners could easily repair their bikes on the go. The 1.6 i-DTEC engine achieves 100.31 mpg and holds the Guinness World Record for fuel economy.

Hyundai

BMW M's ex-Chief Engineer made the move to Hyundai earlier this year. Something that's helped the Korean auto maker decide to form its own performance sub-brand. Hyundai N is displayed through the latest prototype of the WRC car (this time based on the i20 Coupé), the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept and the RM15 concept. The latter is a heavily-modded Veloster with a mid-mounted 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged 296 bhp engine. The first car likely to get the 'N' treatment is the i30, and it could be as early as 2017, with the 'i20 N' following shortly after.

Infiniti

The Infiniti Q30 shares more than just its rivals with the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. It also shares its platform and engines. On sale in 2016, it's likely that the 2.2-litre diesel engine will be a high-seller as the '2.2d' designation has been spotted on the Q30 pictures. A jacked-up QX30 will follow too, sharing its platform with the GLA.

Jaguar

Jaguar's introducing an SUV into its mix of saloons, coupés and roadsters. It's likely to use a rational range of 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel powertrains, with 3.0-litre supercharged V6s topping the range. There's talk of a supercharged V8, too, wearing the SVR badge.

Kia

A brand new Kia Sportage will be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show, so different that at first sight it doesn't resemble any Sportage we know. It incorporated a low tiger-nose grille and rumours have it that 3-cylinder engines would be a possibility.

Enhancements to the Cee'd will include a new 1.0-litre ecoTurbo 3-cylinder engine, a new dual clutch auto 'box and improved interior tech and safety.

The 4th generation Kia Optima will stand proudly at the show too, displaying its wireless phone charging capability. Wow. A 175 bhp petrol engine will be offered next to a 141 bhp diesel, and they're both available with a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

Lamborghini

To complete its range, Lamborghini will be unveiling its Huracán LP 610-4 Spider convertible. The 'Spider' name has been confirmed to be carried over from the Gallardo and it's likely to retain its soft-top retractable roof. Other details are thin on the ground at the moment.

Lexus

Its new RX takes ideas from the smaller NX, particularly its origami-like design and the introduction of a smaller engine. As well as the 300 bhp 3.5-litre petrol V6 and the 3.5-litre petrol-hybrid V6 which also has a target output of some 300 bhp, we're likely to see an RX 200t with around 225 bhp.

The facelifted GS will also have a 200t model (238 bhp_, although this won't be coming to the UK).

Lotus

A reincarnation of the 2-Eleven, the Lotus 3-Eleven uses a 3.5-litre V6 to produce 443 bhp. If that's not enough, its sub-900 kg kerb weight should be the icing on the cake.

Maserati

Maserati? SUV? That's right. This stylish coupé SUV will use an on-demand four-wheel-drive setup, with twin-turbo power coming from a 3.0-litre V6 and a 3.8-litre V8. There's even a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 with power output lying between the two petrols.

Mazda

The Koeru concept car hints at a future SUV that will sit between the CX-3 and the CX-5. Its coupé-like styling would place the SUV up against the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé.

Mercedes

Finally, the C-Class Coupé is on its way. With design cues from the S-Class Coupé, it will come with 3 sensible diesel engines. A 134 bhp 1.6-litre C200 and two 2.1-litre units, the 168 bhp C220 and the 210 bhp C250. One petrol will be available too, it's a 181 bhp, 300 Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged unit. A C300 BlueTEC diesel-hybrid is on the decks too, producing 237 bhp yet achieving 74 mpg.

Mercedes-AMG has taken the C-Class Coupé and made it better. The C63 will use a twin-turbocharged V8 in favour of efficiency.

We've been given the GLE Coupé, but now we'll see some more of the GLC Coupé. The Shanghai concept used the 362 bhp 520 Nm V6 from the C 450 AMG, but it's likely to have a range of four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel options similar to the GLC SUV and C-Class on which it's based. It's not irrational to expect a Mercedes-AMG GLC 63, just like the C63 above, and it's even possible that Mercedes could be hiding plans for a plug-in hybrid variant.

Wait, there's another Mercedes? Yes, the S-Class Coupé is going to have a closer relative than the Saloon. The S-Class Cabriolet will debut with a twin-turbo 449 bhp 4.7-litre V8 (S500). The 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 will produce 577 bhp, making it good for 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds.

MINI

After lying dormant, the Clubman is back. It swaps its controversial 'Clubdoor' rear door for a more conforming 4-door layout, but the double-door boot remains. Priced from £20k, it'll be available with 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre petrol engines, or a 2.0-litre diesel unit under the names of the Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S and Cooper SD.

Nissan

Nissan's Gripz concept shows its face in some official pictures. But that's all it does show. What do we know? That Nissan is planning to replace the Juke soon, and it wants an all-new sports-orientated SUV.

The Navara has been renamed the NP300 Navara and debuts the 2.3-litre dCi engine, available with a single turbocharger and a 158 bhp output or 187 bhp with a twin-turbo. With its 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission, it will tow up to 3,500 kg.

Everything remains unchanged in the new Leaf apart from its battery. The 30 kW battery gives a range of 150-160 miles as opposed to the current 80-100 miles.

Peugeot

Peugeot's 308 is coming in two forms, the GTi and the R HYbrid. The former producing 266 bhp and the latter, no less than 493 bhp. Way above that of the ludicrous Ford Focus RS's 345 bhp.

The Fractal concept uses a 3D-printed interior and keyless entry accessible by a smartwatch. Although the car itself is unlikely to be used for a production car, the technology on display certainly hints and PSA's aims.

Porsche

Mild tweaks form the facelifted Porsche 911, but new 3.0-litre turbocharged engines sit in the new Carrera and Carrera S.

Renault

To improve the French firm's sales, a longer, lower and wider Mégane will be on display at Frankfurt, sharing dynamic, in-your-face design cues with the Clio and new Kadjar.

The 7-seat Espace is, in my eyes, Renault's best-looking car in a long time! It's essentially a squished MPV that doesn't compromise on space and wouldn't look massively out of place in the streets of Monte Carlo. Well, slight exaggeration.

The Talisman is also a great improvement on Renault's recent ventures. Replacing the Laguna, the saloon and estate models boast high levels of equipment and certainly turn heads.

Oh, and did I mention, the Espace and Talisman will not be coming to the UK? Hmm.

Rolls-Royce

The driver-orientated Dawn shares its platform with the Wraith. The £250,000 droptop uses the Ghost's 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 giving the mini barge 563 bhp and 780 Nm. It achieves a dismal 19.9 mpg, emitting 330 g/km.

Seat

A facelifted Ibiza Cupra uses a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the one found in its German counterpart, the VW Polo GTI. It produces 189 bhp.

In other Cupra news, the Leon Cupra 280 is replaced by the Leon Cupra 290. The uprated engine now produces 286 bhp.

Smart

Joining the new ForTwo is the Smart ForTwo Cabrio. It uses an electric folding roof and will be on sale at the end of the Frankfurt Motor Show.

SsangYong

SsangYong will be displaying two new concept cars at the show. The first, the XLV-Air, appears to be an elongated Tivoli. A 7-seater Tivoli? Will it arrive the UK?

The second is the XAV-Adventure. It's a rugged off-roady compact crossover. Maybe a replacement to the Korando?

Suzuki

The new Suzuki Baleno indirectly follows on from the Swift, offering more space and a fresh design.

Thunder Power

Yes, that's right, there's an auto company under the name of Thunder Power. The Taiwanese maker is planning to release an electric car to rival Tesla's Model S. With a 373-mile range, 430 bhp, a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-62 mph sprint time of less than 5 seconds, it's not bad for such a new member to the industry. The company plans to sell it for 400,000 Chinese Yuan (just over £40,000).

Toyota

Whether you like it or not, the Toyota Prius has been very successful in terms of alternative powered cars. Although it's likely to keep its 1.8-litre petrol-hybrid formula, the design has had a major rework. It's now more in line with the Mirai.

Vauxhall

The new Astra hopes to steal the Mégane's thunder (see what I did there?). It promises up to 90 mpg, boasts Apple CarPlay and starts at just over £15,000.

Sitting next to the new Astra, the Astra Sports Tourer will be displaying its upmarket design and improved quality.

A 6-seater Vivaro Surf concept using a 140 bhp bi-turbo CDTI diesel engine and standard air suspension hints at a limited edition model ideal for those who frequent the beach with more company than what a traditional car can carry.

Volkswagen

VW's Tiguan is far away from production, but the CrossBlue concept car will be demonstrating its next move.

The refreshed Golf Cabriolet is now available with a red fabric roof, further customisation and sportier front and back accenting.

Celebrating 40 years of GTI, the 261 bhp Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport storms out of Germany with a £28,000 price tag. To further demonstrate the technological advances we've seen in those four decades, VW has given it the ability to have up to 286 bhp for bursts of 10 seconds when you floor the throttle.

Lastly from VW is the Caddy Alltrack. Available as a 5-seater or just a 2-seat load-lugger, 4MOTION four-wheel-drive is an option. Over in mainland Europe it will even come with a 1.4 TGI engine, a unit that utilises natural compressed gas. This is staying with Renault's Espace and Talisman, though, as it won't be coming to the UK any time soon. It's available in Germany for the equivalent of £14,500.