It's that time of the year when thoughts turn to Christmas treats, and motorists are not immune. Four years on from the millennium, many a motorist is thinking the time has come to change their motors.
So, with that in mind, here's a quick guide to what's coming in the New Year that may tempt you to hold out and await their arrival Perhaps we can whet your appetite with some of the brand new models coming your way in the forthcoming months. So here goes:
• Supermini/small cars:
The New Year will be dominated by the Fiat Panda, European Car of the Year, and the arrival of a 1.3-litre diesel version, probably in February. The Citroën C2 will also be fighting for market space, with some of the sharpest looks in its class. We can also expect interest in the new range of Smart cars which have arrived this autumn but only really begin to show in the New Year sales. Expected sales of between 500 and 700 seem a tad optimistic given that competitors like MINI managed 328 last year.
At the more colourful end of the market is the MINI Cabriolet, that will first appear at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with British sales following in June 2004.
• Family cars:
It's the battle of the Teutonic titans, as Opel Astra vies with VW Golf in the new year, closely matched by some very strong Japanese entrants in the form of the Mazda3. Then, while these sort themselves out, we must wait to the end of 2004 before spotting the new Ford Focus on our roads. It may seem like an eternity, but some may wait that long.
While the Golf is very much in keeping with its predecessor, both the Astra and Mazda3 are leagues apart from what's on offer at present. The Mazda is significantly bigger than the 323 it replaces and, built on the upcoming Ford Focus platform, offers a sharp ride.
As for the Astra, while we haven't got behind the wheel of it yet, on looks alone it leaves its predecessor at the starting gate. First released in five-door format it will come in eight engine formats: five petrol and three diesel, all ranging from 1.4-litre to 2-litre.
At the upper end, there's the new Peugeot 407, due for launch at Geneva in March and expected here in early summer in saloon format. An SW version will follow in September. Engines will include a 1.8-litre petrol, two-litre petrol and diesel, 2.2-litre petrol and a 1.6-litre diesel. Another model that's going to interest the family motorist is the new Volvo S40 - it will be here early in the New Year.
The new model is slightly shorter than its predecessor, but takes its design cues from the likes of the S60 and S80. Initially two petrol engines will be on offer, both 2.4-litre, offering 140 bhp and 170 bhp.
Elsewhere, for those interested in getting the height advantage, Mitsubishi's "soft-roader" SUV, the Outlander, should hit our shores in early 2004, with its long-awaited Grandis making its appearance by the summer.
• Premium/Luxury:
At the upper end of the market, Lexus is offering its reworked LS430. The new model, which shows little change in terms of appearance will, however, feature air suspension as standard. But perhaps the most the most significantly "new" feature is the newly-developed six-speed electronically-controlled semi-sequential automatic transmission, meant to improve driving dynamics and give a wider range of closer gear ratios. Of course, the power and glory of the Lexus flagship is its 4.3 litre V8 engine with 281 bhp that propels it from zero to 62 mph in just 6.3 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 mph. Fuel consumption should be at least 25 mpg.
Another car firm making the change to six-speed is Peugeot, which offers very minor tweaks to its flagship 607. Along with the new six-speed gearbox available in the 2.2 HDi version by next March, you can expect a very slight restyle in late 2004.
For the more sports-minded executives, the BMW 6-series will be on offer from April. The 645Ci is loosely based on the new 5-series chassis platform and it will be built alongside the 5- and 7-series at BMW's Dingolfing plant in Germany at an anticipated rate of about 20,000 a year. It goes on Irish sale in March, starting from €120,000, with 75 to 80 cars going on roads here next year. The 645Ci comes with a 4,398 cc V8 petrol unit developing 328 bhp. Performance is automatically limited to 155 mph, and it will sprint from zero to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds.
However, for the family-orientated exec, perhaps the new BMW 5-Series touring may be more in line. The more choice the better, and estate fans will also see the first Jaguar load carrier arrive in March in the form of the X-Type Estate.
But perhaps the biggest news in this segment is the arrival of the Honda diesel, a final nail in the coffin of the diesel cynics. Having driven this car at Honda's test centre in Germany, we can safely say that it will take even the most ardent petrol-head by surprise.
Other good news for environmentally-conscious motorists is the arrival of the Toyota Prius this January. This is a real car and not some transport cross that has to be borne for the sake of one's beliefs. Our initial time spent behind the wheel was short but impressive, and you can expect to see more of these on our roads in the coming years. From the same stable comes the more upmarket version, the Lexus RX300 hybrid. Based on the same petrol-electric technology it's claimed to offer similar performance but without the premium pricing.
• Sports/Coupés:
For sports and coupé fans, the coming year promises some enticing treats and the first serious competition for the Audi TT. First up we have the Mazda RX-8, the well-priced rotary-engined four-door coupé for under €50,000 for the top of the range 231 bhp model. Launched last week it will be in Irish showrooms in time for the Christmas sales.
Also just off the boat is the Nissan 350z, a very smart new entrant, though priced at the upper end of the TT market, coming in at €64,995. Another in this price bracket will be the Chrysler Crossfire, with its unique mix of European and American styling and powered by Mercedes' 215 bhp 3.2-litre V6. Finally, there's the Alfa Romeo GT Coupé. Due here in early spring, you can read about it on page 10.
Finally, from Peugeot, the 307 CC will begin to arrive here in small numbers at the end of this year, but in larger stock by the start of 2004. Four versions of the 307CC will be available: a 1.6-litre petrol at €31,895 ex-works, two-litre petrol (138 bhp) at €36,095; two-litre auto €37,695 and the 180 bhp two-litre at €41,395. Given our penal tax system, the 1.6-litre will be the best seller here.
A facelifted Mercedes C-Class is also due by mid-spring, leading to the new CLK's arrival.
