Fiat Tipo Trio - Saloon, Hatchback and Estate

Fiat's Tipo was first unveiled in saloon guise last summer at the Istanbul Motor Show, but even today we still don't know if it's coming to the UK.

Tipo Saloon

We do know, however, that the hatchback and estate models will be arriving on our shores.

Fiat claims that the hatchback will comfortably sit three 6-foot rear passengers, with an overall length of 4.37 metres. That's exactly as long as a Volvo V40. The difference between the V40 and Tipo hatchback? Its boot. The Tipo offers 116 litres more (440 litres), with the estate boasting an even larger 550 litres. There is an additional 12 litres of storage space dotted around the cabin.

In fact, the Fiat Tipo Hatchback offers on average more than 70 litres more space than 21 of its rivals, with only the Peugeot 308 (+30 litres) and Honda Civic (+37 litres) offering more.

Tipo Hatchback

Available in 3 trim levels, all models will include air conditioning, electrically adjustable door mirrors, 6 airbags, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth, a multifunction steering wheel and electric front windows (with estate models gaining electric rear windows).

Two MultiJet II diesel engines will be available, a 1.3-litre offering 94 bhp and 200 Nm, and a 1.6-litre with 118 bhp and 320 Nm. The later, when paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, is said to achieve 76.3 mpg and 98 g/km of CO2.

It's best to avoid the entry-level 1.4-litre 16v petrol with its 94 bhp and 125 Nm, in favour of the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol whose 118 bhp and 206 Nm make it a lot more enticing.

A 1.6-litre e-TorQ petrol engine produces 108 bhp and 152 Nm, using a more conventional 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Tipo Estate

Sports Tourer Estate Joins the Astra Family

Having already made a great impression, the Astra family is now extending with the addition of a more practical estate. It goes on sale this month with a starting price of £16,585.

Its 1630-litre boot with the seats folded down trumps that of the Ford Focus Estate (1502 litres) and Volkswagen Golf Estate (1620 litres).

The new Astra Sports Tourer is a techno-fest that's widely available to the public. Inside, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provide integrated smartphone connectivity, while an automatically opening tailgate (part of the Keyless Entry and Start package) makes loading the boot a lot easier.

As well as the 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (£17,285) and 1.6-litre Whisper Diesel (£18,785) that can return 83.1 mpg and emit 89 g/km, the Astra Sports Tourer gets a new 1.6-litre bi-turbodiesel. Official figures come in at 67.3 mpg and 112 g/km, despite sprinting to 62 mph in just 8.4 seconds.

Vauxhall Mokka X Previews New Design Language

Arriving in British showrooms late in 2016, the Mokka X demonstrated a new design language for the future SUVs and crossovers of Vauxhall. These include a wing-shaped horizontal front grille and a sharp set of LED daytime running lights. The rear of the Mokka X remains mostly unchanged, with it being a facelift as opposed to a brand-new car.

It features a brand-new, redesigned dashboard that's said to be inspired by the current-generation Astra.

Vauxhall's refreshed crossover will feature a new 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol unit that's able to produce 150 bhp. With a 6-speed automatic transmission, it returns a claimed 42.8 mpg and emits 154 g/km. All-wheel-drive models are driven by the front wheels in normal conditions, with up to 50% of the power being delivered to the rear wheels in slippery situations.

Vauxhall GT Concept

Powered by the same 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine found in the ADAM, Corsa and Astra, the GT concept produces 143 bhp and 205 Nm of torque. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a 6-speed sequential transmission which features steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

With a sub-1,000 kg weight, the GT gets to 62 mph in under 8 seconds and on to a top speed of 134 mph.

Familiar Vauxhall technology is used in the GT concept, including the glare-free high-beam lighting from the IntelliLux LED matrix lighting. The button-free interior is operated primary by voice controls and a central touchpad.

Despite having a definite concept car look about it, the GT could make its way to British showrooms in the distant future as an affordable yet attractive sports coupé. The camera replacements for wing mirrors are very unlikely to be carried over, as is the extreme design.

SsangYong XIV-2 Concept Hints at Future Mid-Sized SUV

SsangYong's XIV-2 concept car previews a next-generation mid-sized SUV for the Korean brand. A mid-sized SUV equates to something similar to the Hyundai Tuscon, with its dimensions for width, height and wheelbase being 5-10 mm different, and the XIV-2 being 35 mm shorter.

The woodgrain floor and Alcantara headlining show off a more premium side of SsangYong. There are even speakers mounted in the bucket seats and lights in the doors that react to the beat of the music making the concept a particularly playful one.

As well as a 133 bhp 320 Nm 1.6-litre turbodiesel, the XIV-2 uses a 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. Its electric motor produces about 14 bhp making it just a mild hybrid. This is reflected in its less-than-impressive CO2 emission figures of 120-135 g/km.

Audi Welcomes Q2 SUV to the Range

At 1.51 metres tall, the Q2 is slightly higher than Mercedes' GLA. Its 1.79-metre width also puts it in line with the GLA, whereas the length is its differentiating factor. At 4.19 metres, the Q2 is over 20 cm shorter.

As with all of Audi's latest models, the Q2 can be specified with the virtual cockpit - a digital display that replaces the instrument cluster. A head-up display is also an option. As standard, though, the Q2 will get Audi's pre sense front. A system that helps avoid accidents by autonomously braking.

Other technology available on the Q2 includes an adaptive cruise control with stop & go function for traffic jams, a lane departure warning system, traffic sign recognition and rear cross-traffic assist that makes reversing out of a parking space a lot easier.

All models have the German's MMI infotainment display that's controlled by a rotary knob and two buttons, not a touchscreen.

With 405 litres on offer, the boot is actually 76 smaller than that of the GLA. It does offer 25 litres more than the Volkswagen Golf. With the rear seats folded down, a 1,050-litre cargo space is revealed.

When it comes to power, two petrol engines and two diesel engines will be seen from day one. These include a 3-cylinder 1.0-litre and a 4-cylinder 1.4-litre petrol engines, as well as the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines that have power outputs of 114 and 148 bhp. A 2.0-litre petrol engine will enter the lineup later in 2017.

If you prefer not to have the 6-speed manual transmission, a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission called S tronic is available on all models. The higher-powered diesel is available with quattro all-wheel-drive and the 2.0-litre petrol engine will come with quattro as standard.

Infiniti Shows Off 2 New Cars and 1 Upgrade

An all-new Infiniti Q60 sports coupé made great impressions at Geneva today. It will be on sale in the 2nd half of 2016 with some serious styling attitude and tonnes of road presence. A brand-new 'VR30' engine makes its debut in the Q60. It's a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that comes in two guises, 296 and 395 bhp. It's also available with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol that produces 205 bhp. The rear-wheel-drive coupé can be optionally specified with a rear-biased all-wheel-drive setup.

The Q50, a 2016 model year refresh, is gifted with the 'VR30' too. However this sporty saloon has the choice of a 3.5-litre hybrid powertrain or a 2.2-litre 168 bhp turbodiesel.

Last but not least is the Q30's partner in crime. Based on the A-Class, it's no surprise that the GLA has had an influence on Infiniti. Called the QX30, it's essentially a jacked up Q30 that will go on sale in the middle of 2016.

A Year of DS and a New Concept

At the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the Citroën DS5 broke the bond and became the DS 5. In the following year, the DS4 moved over and split into the DS 4 and DS 4 Crossback. Finally, and more recently, the DS3 and DS3 Cabrio went over. That means the DS 3 and DS 3 Cabrio complete the DS range. For the time being.

On display at the Geneva Motor Show this year is the DS 3 Performance, alongside the DS 3 Cabrio Performance. Rivals to the MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper S Convertible, both DS 3 models produce 205 bhp and 300 Nm from a 1.6-litre petrol engine. CO2 emissions are a reasonable 125 g/km.

Celebrating the success of DS's launch, they have partnered with the French watchmaking sector BRM Chronographes. A precise 39 DS 3 models will be available with Brilliant Black mirror housings and roof, and Gold Pearl matt bodywork. The Gold Pearl dashboard and numbered plate emphasise its exclusivity. As part of the package, buyers will received a numbered copy of the 'BRM V6 44 SA SQ DS 3 PERFORMANCE' watch which is water resistant up to 100 m and measures 44 mm in diameter.

Lastly, the E-TENSE concept will be present. An all-electric grant tourer, the E-TENSE produces 397 bhp and 516 Nm and implies that DS may be exploring the possibilities of bringing electric power to production cars in the near future.

Volkswagen T-Cross Breeze Previews Polo-Based SUV

Volkswagen intends to introduce an SUV for each segment of the market. The strategy begins in May with the release of the new Tiguan, and will be followed by SUV equivalents of the Golf (based on the T-Roc concept) and the Polo (based on the T-Cross Breeze).

Volkswagen's most recent concept, the T-Cross Breeze, uses a very real engine. No fancy hybrid systems, or unachievable figures. Just a 108 bhp 1.0-litre TSI engine. Its 175 Nm is delivered through a 7-speed super sick dual-clutch DSG transmission. It gets to 62 mph in 10.3 seconds and continues on to 117 mph. Turbocharging, stop/start technology and a weight of 1,250 kg means is emits 115 g/km and returns 56.5 mpg.

At 4,133 mm long, it sits somewhere between the Polo and Golf. So does the 2,565 mm wheelbase.

LED headlights, daytime running lights and rings around the fog lights are complemented by 19-inch aluminium wheels, reminding us that this is a concept car. Its 300-litre boot is larger than the 251-litre boot found in the Range Rover Evoque Convertible.

Volkswagen's vision is a button-free future. The T-Cross Breeze demonstrates where future production cars are aiming in the medium term with touch-sensitive surfaces and very few buttons.

Proximity sensors control the likes of air conditioning and heated seats. One of the only physical controls is located on the centre console. In fact, there are three. The glass scroll wheels control the transmission, electronic parking brake and adaptive chassis control. The engine, damping and steering characteristics can all be altered in correspondence to the terrain.

Two separate displays share functionalities and are laid out similarly to those found in the latest generation Mercedes E-Class. The driver can rearrange the tile-shaped apps on the central, which include interesting statistics like altitude and weather, as well as displaying the last 3 text messages received by the driver and his or her music.

CarPlay and Android Auto ensure top quality smartphone connectivity, whilst BeatsAudio™ provides high-end sound output. The 300 W 8-channel setup includes a subwoofer integrated into the centre console between the two front occupants.

Hyundai Adds 1.7-litre Diesel Engine to Tuscon Lineup

Since going on sale in late 2015, the Tuscon has made over 115,000 European sales. These have been made up of a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine, a turbocharged 1.6, two 2.0-litre turbodiesels and a 114 bhp 1.7-litre turbodiesel.

With many of its sales coming from a mixture of its diesel engines, it's no wonder than Hyundai has added a second 1.7-litre turbodiesel. Power jumps from 114 bhp to 139, with a torque figure of 340 Nm (up by 60 Nm).

Its stop/start system, 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel-drive setup means it emits 129 g/km, running at 57.6 mpg. It reaches 62 mph in 11.5 seconds.

Hyundai GO! Special Editions

Ready for the UEFA European soccer championships held in France, Hyundai has prepared GO! Special Editions for its three smallest cars, the i10, i20 and i30.

Available in the French flag's colours, these exclusive cars are also specced with blue and white interior detailing, lightweight alloy wheels and privacy glass.

The i10 GO! features blue stitching on the seats, steering wheel and gear stick, with a gloss black centre console.

Building on that, the i20 GO! adds blue surrounds for the gear stick and air vents. New alloy wheels and black headlining give it a more sporty look.

A premium front grille and 17-inch alloys make the i30 GO! stand out further. Inside, the steering wheel, centre console, air vents and doors are finished in gunmetal, while metallic scuff plates are integrated into the front doors. The black headlining carries over from the i20 GO!

Prius-Rivalling Hyundai IONIQ Offered as Hybrid, Plug-in or Electric

For years, the Toyota Prius had its own way. It was alone in its market. Other hybrid cars have come and gone in its time but have never offered a direct alternative. One car that hopes to do just that is the Hyundai IONIQ.

Just like the Prius, the IONIQ will be offered in Hybrid and Plug-in forms. Additionally, there will be an Electric form.

The IONIQ Hybrid uses a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder GDI petrol engine. Combined with its electric motor, it has a system output of 139 bhp and 265 Nm. It can reach 115 mph yet emit around 79 g/km. Korean-spec models are set to deliver 22.4 km/l which equates to a little over 63 mpg. It houses a 1.56 kWh battery.

Next is the IONIQ Plug-in. It uses the same setup but with an electric motor that produces a little more power. The 8.9 kWh battery means a 30-mile electric-only range and emissions as low as 32 g/km.

Both petrol-electric models deliver their power through a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission with the aim of better drivability, avoiding the sluggish CVT altogether. SPORT mode holds onto gears for longer and extracts all the power from both powertrains, whereas ECO mode essentially does the exact opposite.

Lastly is the 118 bhp 295 Nm IONIQ Electric. It's home to a larger 28 kWh battery, which results in a 155-mile range. Top speed is limited to 103 mph.

Every IONIQ has the same Cd value of 0.24.

Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist System, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Smart Cruise Control are all added to the high level of tech found on the new IONIQ. More visual technology includes a 720p 7-inch TFT instrument cluster replacing conventional dials, CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and wireless phone charging capabilities. A free 7-year subscription to TomTom live services comes as standard, with access to its database of weather, traffic, speed cameras and online points of interest.

Luckily, the IONIQ was designed to be an eco car from day one. This means that Hyundai has managed to hide most of the hybrid components without compromising space. Take its boot, for example. With the seats folded down, it measures 750 litres.

The interior door covers are bizarrely made from a combination of recycled plastic, powdered wood and volcanic stone. Extracts of sugar cane are applied to the headlining and floors to improve recyclability and oddly improve air quality. Even the metallic paint colours have soybean oil extracts in them. The designers took the 'green car' brief very seriously.

Outside, the Hybrid has bi-xenon headlights with C-shaped LED daytime running lights, however the Plug-in and Electric have upgraded electric headlights.

We can expect to see the IONIQ go on sale before the Winter of 2016, with pricing set to be competitive with that of the Prius (£23,295).

Dacia Scrubs Up with Essential Limited Edition and Easy-R Transmission

The Dacia Duster Essential is on display at Geneva finished in a new Chestnut Brown paint and fitted with new alloy wheels. It features Bluetooth, USB connectivity and electric front windows. These are what make up the limited-edition Essential trim, available on the Duster, Sandero and Logan MCV here in the UK.

Also on display is the Romanian firm's automated manual transmission. The 6-speed Easy-R was introduced late last year to the TCe 90 Stop&Start petrol engine, but as of today it is available on the dCi 90 diesel engine too.

It's said to be calibrated not only for driving pleasure but also traffic and urban areas. It features a hill-hold function for easy hill starts and has been under 750,000 km of testing.That's the equivalent of driving from Land's End (Cornwall) to Inverness (Scottish Highlands) *and back* more than 320 times.

There are no plans for this transmission to be used in the UK.

S-Max, Edge, Mondeo Hatchback and Kuga Join Mondeo Saloon and Estate in the Vignale Family

Sixty FordStores in the UK have a dedicated Vignale lounge where customers can part with moderate sums of money to buy a Ford Vignale model. Essentially, posher Fords.

The S-Max Vignale will be available in two pearlescent paint colours, Vignale Milano Grigio (stone grey) and Vignale White Platinum (white).

The second model to join the range is the Edge Vignale, available in Vignale Ametista Scura ('dark amethyst') and Vignale White Platinum.

Both models feature the premium family's hexagonal dark matte grille with a polished aluminium surround, chrome-finished fog lights and polished 19-inch aluminium wheels.

Inside, the light Cashmere or dark Ebony leather upholstery is hexagonally quilted. All models will get Ford's latest SYNC 3 infotainment system. The 8-inch touchscreen houses CarPlay and Android Auto.

At the moment, the current range of Mondeo Vignale models use 178 bhp 2.0-litre diesel engines, although a 207 bhp bi-turbo 2.0-litre diesel is set to arrive the new Vignale family.

Only the 4-door saloon and 5-door estate Mondeos have been given the Vignale treatment which explains why the 5-door hatchback is also getting a makeover.

Last but not least is a Kuga Vignale concept. It's more of a "look what's coming" sort of concept car as opposed to one that stretched the company's limitations. Ford claims that almost 80% of the nearly 33,000 Kugas sold in Britain last year were of the Titanium trim, suggesting that there's a strong premium SUV market. It's on display at Geneva in Vignale Palazzo Pearl (cream).

Volkswagen Phideon Destined for China with Thirsty Petrol Engines

The Phaeton of old was forced to leave the USA and the UK due to very poor sales figures. Despite this, the Chinese premium segment continues to grow and the Phaeton sells enough units to survive. Its successor, the Phideon, is a result of the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture.

Developed in Germany on an all-new MLB platform, it will use a range of 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines. The top-of-the-range 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged petrol unit outputs 296 bhp and 440 Nm, getting its power down to the road through 4MOTION all-wheel-drive. There are even plans to have a plug-in hybrid model although details are scarce.

Its 5.05-metre length puts it on par with the BMW 7 Series and the Porsche Panamera. With a width of 1.87 metres and a 1.48-metre height, a long bonnet and short overhangs, the Phideon undoubtedly carries a prestigious look. These are accentuated by the bolder grille and striking LED headlights.

Inside, electrically adjustable heated and ventilated seats with massage function are not solely reserved for front seat passengers. Rear occupants are treated too. Soft close doors are a mere reminder of its lavishness.

The comfortable ride is thanks to air suspension similar to that of a Bentley. A head-up display and Area View (a combination of four wide-angle cameras) make driving the barge somewhat easier. Other technologies include active cruise control, a camera-based lane departure warning system and automatic headlights. The Phideon is even equipped with a night vision camera that sees through fog as well as darkness, and is able to alert the driver of anything that may be in his or her path. CarPlay and MirrorLink come part of the package offering foolproof smartphone connectivity.

The brand-new Volkswagen Phideon will go on sale in China in the third quarter of 2016 with pricing yet to be confirmed.