It’s shaping up to be another busy year for new car releases. There are exciting new models on the way of all shapes and sizes in 2014, from hardcore performance cars to thrifty urban runabouts.
Here are our picks of the most significant new cars on the way in the new year – could your next car be in the list below?
What is it? A classy looking drop-top version of the Audi A3 saloon with a swift-folding fabric roof. It’s longer than the old A3 Cabrio and really can fit four proper-sized adults in comfort. We’ve been behind the wheel already – you can read our full Audi A3 Cabriolet review here. How much? Prices range from £25,790 to £32,420. How fast? The 1.8-litre TFSI petrol version can get from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and go on to a top speed of 150mph. How economical? From launch, the 2.0-litre TDI diesel averages a claimed 67mpg with CO2 emissions of 110g/km. In February a 1.6-litre diesel joins the range, and Audi suggests average fuel consumption could approach 70mpg with CO2 emissions close to, or below, 100g/km. When can I buy one? It’s available to order now, with deliveries starting in April. |
What is it? An ultra-high performance version of the BMW 4 Series Coupe and the successor to the BMW M3, a performance car hero. It’s powered by a 416bhp twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine with a massive 539Nm of torque sent to the rear wheels only. It’s lighter than the old M3 and will feature a clever electronic limited-slip differential, so we can expect it to handle seriously well. Traditionalists will be relieved to know that a proper six-speed manual gearbox will be available alongside a seven-speed automatic transmission option. Read our preview here. How much? Expect a price tag around the £58,000 mark. How fast? 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 155mph, although a higher performance version that’s faster still may join the range later. How economical? It’s likely to be more efficient than the V8-engined M3 it replaces. Performance cars are getting more efficient all the time, so the M4’s fuel economy and emissions may surprise us. When can I buy one? It will be unveiled in production form (the car pictured here is a concept) at the Detroit motor show in January, with sales starting in spring. |
What is it? A futuristic-looking sports car with a suitably futuristic power source – it’s a plug-in hybrid. It’s the second model in BMW’s ‘i’ sub-brand, joining the little BMW i3 city car. It combines a 229bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine to power the rear wheels with an electric motor sending up to 129bhp to the front wheels. The car is largely constructed from carbon fibre and other lightweight materials in an effort to keep its total weight as low as possible. There’s more information in our preview here. How much? Unfortunately it won’t be cheap – we expect it to cost around £95,000 from launch. How fast? Using both power sources together, the i8 could get from 0-62mph as quickly as 4.4 seconds. In electric-only mode it can reach 75mph and far higher speeds with the engine in play. How economical? Electric-only range is quoted as 22 miles, with BMW claiming average fuel economy could be as high as 113mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 59g/km – not bad for a car that’s more or less as quick as a BMW M3. When can I buy one? It’s scheduled to be launched in July 2014. |
What is it? A compact 4×4 that aims to combine a high driving position with town-friendly dimensions. It’ll do battle in an increasingly busy marketplace with other small ‘crossover’ vehicles such as the Nissan Juke, Suzuki SX4 and Hyundai ix20. Based on the same underpinnings as the Ford Fiesta, it should be able to handle a spot of light off-roading but don’t expect Land Rover-like prowess in mountainous terrain. We’ve driven the Ecosport: find out all about it in our review here. How much? It’s priced between the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus, starting from £14,995. How fast? Expect the top performance figures to belong to the version fitted with Ford’s impressive 123bhp 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine. How economical? There’ll be a 1.5-litre diesel derivative which may well dip under the 100g/km emissions barrier for free road tax and average as much as 70mpg. When can I buy one? It’ll land in the UK in the first quarter of 2014. |
What is it? An estate version of the five-door Honda Civic hatchback. It’s a very practical car with a huge boot and lots of clever storage solutions, along with high-tech adaptive rear suspension on top trim levels. We’ve tested the Tourer already and you can read the Parkers verdict in our full Honda Civic Tourer review here. How much? It’s not the cheapest estate in its sector, starting from £20,265 for the entry-level petrol ‘S’ derivative. How fast? There’s one petrol and one diesel engine available. The petrol’s the quickest, getting from 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and topping out at 130mph. How economical? Best is the diesel: claimed average fuel consumption of 74mpg, a theoretical average range of 817 miles from a full tank and CO2 emissions of only 99g/km, meaning free road tax at current VED rates. When can I buy one? It’s available to order now and reaches Honda dealerships in February 2014. |
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What is it? An all-new version of Hyundai’s popular city runabout. It’s still cheap but it’s now more cheerful too, with a more premium feel and improved driving dynamics. We’ve already given it the Parkers full review treatment – read all about it here. How much? More or less the same as the old one: the range starts from £8,345, with the most expensive derivatives costing £10,495 before options. How fast? Not very. The most powerful engine is the 86bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit (there are no diesel options) with a top speed of 106mph and 0-62mph time of 12.3 seconds. How economical? Very. Even the thirstiest version, the 1.2-litre with automatic gearbox, can average a claimed 45.6mpg. Thriftiest is the 1.0-litre SE Bluedrive, which averages 65.7mpg and emits 98g/km of CO2. When can I buy one? It goes on sale in the UK on 30 January 2014. |
What is it? The eagerly awaited roofed version of the F-Type sports car. Jaguar’s design team hasn’t spoiled the lines by putting a lid on it – it looks every bit as stunning as the soft-top F-Type roadster. Powered by the same supercharged V6 petrol engine, it promises to handle even more sweetly than the soft-top too as Jaguar’s engineers say it has the most rigid construction of any road car the company has ever produced. There will be three versions: the regular Coupé, Coupé S (with more power, transmission and suspension upgrades and more equipment) and a hardcore R version with a 543bhp supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine. Check out our previews here and here for more information. How much? The entry-level Coupé costs £51,235, the S Coupé £60,235 and the flagship R Coupé £85,000. How fast? Coupé: 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds, top speed 161mph Coupé S: 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds, top speed 171mph Coupé R: 0-60mph in 4.0 seconds, top speed 186mph (electronically limited) How economical? Coupé: claimed average fuel consumption of 32.1mpg, CO2 emissions of 205g/km Coupé S: claimed average fuel consumption of 31.0mpg, CO2 emissions of 213g/km Coupé R: claimed average fuel consumption of 25.5mpg, CO2 emissions of 259g/km When can I buy one? It’s scheduled for launch in March. |
What is it? A 4×4 offshoot of the A-Class family. It’s available in two- or four-wheel drive, with a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines. It’ll have to match some tough rivals, including the VW Tiguan, Audi Q3 and BMW X1. There will also be a Mercedes GLA 45 AMG performance version to compete with cars such as the Audi RSQ3. For more info, check out our Mercedes GLA preview. How much? Expect prices to start from around £25,000; significantly more for the AMG version. How fast? Top petrol version is the 2.0-litre GLA 250, which will get from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds. The GLA 45 AMG will manage that in less than five. How economical? Most efficient is the GLA 200 CDI diesel with a manual gearbox, which will return a claimed 65.6mpg and emit 114g/km of CO2. When can I buy one? It’s available to order now but won’t reach showrooms until the early stages of 2014. |
What is it? The all-new ‘new Mini’. This is the third-generation of the hugely popular hatch, and while it looks similar to the outgoing model it’s undergone some significant changes. Firstly, it’s a little larger than before for a less cramped interior and extra 51 litres of boot space. There’s a new range of more efficient engines too, one petrol and one diesel from launch. As before there’ll be a warm Cooper model and a hotter Cooper S version. How much? £15,300 for the Cooper, £16,450 for the diesel Cooper D and £18,650 for the Cooper S. How fast? The Cooper S will scorch from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds with the automatic gearbox, or a tenth slower with the manual. How economical? Diesel Cooper D models could offer CO2 emissions as low as 92g/km, depending on which wheels and tyres you spec. When can I buy one? Global launch will be in spring 2014 and you’ll be able to read everything you need to know about the new car in our full review here on Parkers. |
What is it? The follow up to one of the UK’s most popular family cars. The outgoing Qashqai has been phenomenally successful but it’s beginning to feel its age and it’s time for an all-new replacement. It’s got big shoes to fill but should be up to the task as it promises a higher quality interior, superior comfort levels and new safety technology. We’ll be driving the new Nissan Qashqai in January 2014 and you’ll be able to read our full and comprehensive review here. How much? Prices start from £17,595. How fast? Swiftest version will be a 148bhp 1.6-litre petrol variant set to join the range in summer 2014. How economical? Fuel consumption and emissions have been improved over the outgoing version. The updated 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine emits less than 100g/km of CO2 and averages a claimed 74mpg. When can I buy one? It goes on sale in January 2014, with a special launch edition available to order now. |
If you’re a company car driver or fleet buyer, you may also like to check out our special company cars to watch out for in 2014 feature.
