What to expect in 2015 - All the new and re-freshed cars - L to Z

Kia

Picanto facelift – February 2015
Rio facelift – autumn 2015
Venga facelift – February 2015
Sportage – late 2015
Sorento – April 2015
Optima – late summer 2015

Another big year for Kia, next month we get face lifted Picanto, the car that was tasked with the turnaround of the company some years ago, and a car that still stacks up well to the competition, but lately it has started to date, quickly, so a new look is really needed now, the Tiger Grill Nose, as Kia calls it, is a big part of the brand identity, and this will be evident on the new baby car.

The best selling Rio hatchback, has been a massive success, and a face lift for this car, like the Picanto is much needed, and will keep it to the front of the budget cars for some while yet, the same goes for the mini MPV Venga, it too gets a face lift, bringing all the ranges together with a similar look, but not to the extent that they all look the same but in differing sizes, Kia has stayed away from that, for now.

An all new Sorento makes it to market around April, the large SUV in the range has not been as big a seller like the Sportage, but it has a core base that has grown with each new model, and will surely grow again, Kia has now gotten to a point where they design some really good looking cars, which are well specified, priced and have decent warranties, it is a shame that other more mainstream brands can not follow this.

The all new Sportage will carry on where the current one has gotten too, and that's a mass seller, that has achieved a great reputation, brilliant reliability and looks that belie the fact that this is an SUV, the Sportage, is beautiful, whether it be the MK I or MK II, and as long as they don't go silly on the pricing, the Sportage will again be a huge hit.

Lastly for Kia, we have the Optima, a saloon car that slots into the Mondeo class, the addition of this car is a surprise as that segment is shrinking year after year as more people abandon saloon cars in favour of SUV/Crossovers, whether this car will succeed is something that only time will tell, but it comes well kitted out, it will be well priced, with that great warranty, it will take some sales away from Mondeo/Insignia/Passat an others, but enough to make it cost effective, who knows, lets just wait and see, at least they offer a hybrid, which is one up on a number of other brands in this class. 

Koenigsegg

Agera One:1 – early 2015

Well, what do you say to this, Stunning, beautiful, Gorgeous, amazing, super fast, Low, powerful, uber powerful, luxurious, and just perfect, if there was only allowed to be one hyper car in the world, then this is surely it.

It weighs in at 1340kg, which is not the lightest car in the world, but aligned to its 1340hp, yes that's one hp per kg, it makes this car one of the fastest in the world, it can go from 0-400kph in 20 seconds, yes TWENTY, and it has not even got the biggest engine in a production car, it runs a 5.0 litre V8, and it can allegedly achieve 16mpg, or about 2mpg when you rag it to death, 

Would I have one, well, if i could get into it, HELL YES.......

Lamborghini

Huracan Spyder – summer 2015

This one is an odd one, so there is very little to say, it has not been given the green light yet, but from the artists impression below, it can look stunning without a roof, so, AUDI, get your fingers out and get this signed off now.

Land Rover

Defender Final Editions - mid year
Discovery Sport – January 2015
Evoque facelift – summer 2015
Evoque cabriolet – summer 2015
Range Rover Sport SVR – spring 2015

2015 is going to be a big year for Land Rover, one which will see it, and Sister company, Jaguar,  surpass half a million sales for the very first time, we have seen so many pictures of the new Discovery Sport, the Freelander 2 replacement, that it is really old news now, why JLR does this is beyond me, showing cars months and months before launch, that by the time they are released, you feel as though they have been around for ages, the new car will get seven seats as standard and will feature the new Ingenium engine range.

2015 sees the end of Defender, the range of SUV's that have been around since 1948, and to celebrate, if that's the right term, or commiserate if you prefer, LR are launching three special edition run out models, one of which will be painted in historic green with the very first registration number used as stickers, the three models will be called heritage, Adventure and Autobiography, and each will be strictly limited in number. (LOOK HERE FOR MORE)

The off shoot of JLR which specially produces extreme versions of their cars is called SVO, and the first of the new breed of cars from this part of JLR is the Range Rover Sport SVR, it will produce 542bhp, and will become the most powerful product that Land Rover has ever produced, and at less than £95,000 it will undoubtedly sell well, especially if you're a footballer, or his wife.

Land Rover's design guru, Gerry McGovern likes to surprise us, like he did with the original Evoque, but he has made hints that the mid-life facelift will "unconventional", could that mean a really big facelift, or tweaks and tucks, but all new models, we are still waiting for the XL Evoque, whether that will ever see the light of day is something that we will have to wait for, the same for the Evoque Cabrio, now that is a real fashion statement, and not a car that will be off road friendly, rumours are abound that the cabrio will be made, but, well, i just don't know.

There are rumours too that this year will see concepts for the Defender replacement, the Discovery 5 and and all new smaller Range Rover, a car to compete with the Golf, now whether any of those happens we don't know, but expect 2015 to be a year of surprises, new models, lots of launches and lots of hints to the future.

Lexus

RC-F – January 2015
NX200t – March 2015

It has taken Lexus a very long time to get to where they are now, and they have had a few hi-cups along the way, the GS was cancelled then it was not, now its selling well, lots of sporty versions, coupe's and hybrids are abound, and sales are heading the right way, the Lexus SUV is not a stunner, but again, it has it all, reliability, decent kit, pleasant interiors and decent pricing, but for Lexus, they are expanding, and that expansion is already ongoing.

The new RC-F is a great coupe that will help Lexus take sales from other brands, mainly due to their great rep and customer service, other could learn a lot from them, then in a couple of months we have the all new small SUV, the NX200t, another model that will draw sales from other premium brands, so for 2015, Lexus is definitely going to be onto a winning year.

Maserati

Levante – early 2016

Maserati has been the jewel in the crown of the FIAT empire the last couple of years, not for profits, as that is Ferrari's domain, but the complete revitalisation and huge growth, and they did it so quietly, no real fan fares, but with improved products, new models and decent quality, FCA are hoping this plan will work wonders with Alfa, but only time will tell if that works.

The only real car that we are expecting from Maserati this year will be the final look of the Levante Sports Utility vehicle/Crossover, it has gone through a number of changes to get to where it is now, and it is still being ironed out, ready for an end of year reveal and a 2016 launch, they are a little late to the party but they will definitely do a great job on their SUV.

Mazda

2 – March 2015
CX-5 facelift – spring 2015
6 facelift – spring 2015
CX-3 – early summer 2015
MX-5 – late summer 2015

Mazda will have a good year in 2015, with a number of all new and refreshed products coming to market, some more significant than others, coming soon will be the all new Mazda2, this car will take the fight to the Fiesta and Corsa, it will, like all the Mazda's benefit from the Skyactive suite of tech, and the Kodo-Soul of motion design traits, the new Mazda face is grafted onto the nose and it really makes the car stand out, it will also have better quality interior materials and a definite feel of quality.

The CX-5 is a very capable crossover, it is big enough to house your family and luggage, but is not over sized enough to preclude it from visiting local car parks, Mazda managed to get the CX-5 right first time, so this mid life tweak will have some minor exterior detail changes, but the inside, which was very dark and sombre in the test car we drove on launch, will gain a far superior quality finish to the dash and central tunnel.

The Mazda 6 has been doing some great business, and so will not benefit from a major change this time around, but expect the new corporate nose to be grafted on and a better quality feel and experience inside, this will be across the saloon, hatch and estate, pricing should remain reasonably unchanged at just under £20k, but you do get a lot of car for the money, however it does have to be said there are better cars on offer, the Passat and Mondeo will rule this segment, with the rest fighting for scraps.

The all new CX-3 will be a big hitter for Mazda in the UK, it will get all the bells and whistles from the Mazda3, along with a raised look and enhanced visual look to move it away from the Mazda3, it will have some serious competition though, the Juke and Captur along with the 2008 and Mokka are all already established, so to gain a foothold Mazda will need to price and spec this car just right, or it will falter before it has started. 

Lastly for Mazda, the Icon that is the MX-5 is at long last replaced, the look has been around for many months, so its not going to be a surprise, the MX-5 will hopefully re-establish Mazda as a proper sports car maker, as the last model was around for so long, people just didn't even consider it, this model, is very subjective, personally i don't like it, but I am sure it will do well.

McLaren

P1 GTR – summer 2015
Sports Series – autumn 2015

McLaren Automotive is doing well at present, they seem to be launching new models weekly, so much so it is getting very confusing, the P1 which has been about for a while  is getting the GTR treatment, which to a layman means it is a track car only, so don't expect to see one of these toddling down your high street anytime soon,

The new Sport Series is where it is currently at for McLaren, with a number of models announced, and the 675LT (Long Tail) just recently announced, there will be a Coupe and Roadster of course and a GT as well, to stretch out the range, McLaren are really going for Ferrari and Porsche, and doing it at an extremely fast rate, they have nothing to prove, so hopefully they don't go too fast and make mistakes.

As it is, the cars they are producing are just awesome, and as long as they can keep up the innovations and design, there is going to be a very long and fruitful future for the British Super car brand.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-AMG GT – spring 2015
B-class Electric Drive – spring 2015
E-class - 2016
CLA Shooting Brake – March 2015
Mercedes-AMG C63
V-class – March 2015
Maybach – summer 2015
GLE – summer 2015
GLE coupe – summer 2015
GLC - autumn 2015
A-class facelift – autumn 2015
G63 AMG 4x4 - 2015
SLC - 2016

Where to start, Mercedes is going to have a HUGE year for new and refreshed models, at least 13 in teh next year or so, so, I suppose i should start at the top and work my way down the list, either way, its going to be a long blurb for Merc.

The storming new AMG GT is the spiritual successor to the SLS, itself an amazing car, but Mercedes has raised the bar once again, the car is pitted against old rival the Porsche 911, and will come with the 4.0 Litre V8 in two tunes, either 456bhp or 503bhp, even the lowest power output Will be far more sufficient for us mere mortals, the new MB design language has filtered to this model with the slant to the lights and the over sized front grill, expect to see more of them racing than in your local high street.

The B-Class was a weird choice when originally launched, as the A-Class was as near to the same as it could be, and if you needed space, then the C-Class Wagon would be sufficient, but the 'B' has proven to be a slow burner, steady sales and an improved model has made this a decent choice, and with the new face lifted model, there comes an all-electric model, something lacking in the lower ranges on MB cars

The businessmen of the world will be rejoicing at the news that the new E-Class is also on the list of new cars to come, not till 2016, but expect a few concepts to pop up during the year, ready for the all new model next year, it will ape the C-Class and S-Class Coupe, and the new GLA, but then it begs the question, why are MB going back to building a one car design fits all strategy, it is just plain lazy design, and one they had pulled away from, anyway, back to the 'E', it will be a technical tour d'Force with a rather large infotainment screen "attached" to the dash like the C-Class.

The other model in the MB range, the CLA compact saloon-cum-coupe, was another of those cars that didn't really fill a niche, inasmuch as add another to one they already inhabit, the C-Class is a very successful car, but the CLA takes away some of those sales like the CLS does to the E-Class, there are no major design changes this year, except that the CLA will be joined by a new Wagon/Estate, very similar in look to the CLS Wagon, but a little smaller, MB likes to overdo things, and here in this sector they are definitely doing that.

The new C-Class has been a big hit for MB, and as always we are treated to a flagship sporty version, the same engine that is now living inside the AMG GT will be transplanted into the C-Class, so expect anything up to 503bhp from the 4.0 litre twin turbo V8, and as per usual the moniker will be C63 and C63 S, great engines for a great car.

Mercs old Viano gets a new look, better interiors and smarter more classy exterior, and with it a name change to V-Class, the top of the range modes will get all the bells and whistles, leather interior, carbon fibre and aluminium detailing, this will be the ultimate in commercial transportation, and better than your local taxi firms smelly old Insignia.

Unfortunately for MB, the relaunch of Maybach some years ago failed miserably, the cars were not that pretty, but you could not call them unadvanced, these cars were some of the most technically advanced cars on the market, the most luxurious and suitably very well equipped, so where as the brand has died, again, the name has been relaunched on the stretched S-Class, it will be even more advanced, even more luxurious and even more better equipped, but it will be, without doubt an S-Class.

The Big ML SUV/Crossover gets a nice facelift this year and with it, a new name, the GLE, MB, has at long last agreed with everyone else that their model ranges were getting very complicated, so they have realigned the naming and where each model fits, to make it far easier to decided which car fits into what class, however, they still make so many cars that deciding is still a difficult proposition, the GLE will build upon the history of the ML, which has gained a vast following around the globe, so expect this model to continue that.

The GLE coupe is Mercedes’ answer to the BMW X6, and will go on sale in the UK in June of next year. It'll cost around £10,000 more than equivalent GLE models, enough said about that, another model that really serves no purpose.

MB is launching yet another SUV, this time based on the underpinnings of the all new C-Class, it will be called GLC, and will be available here in the UK this year, it will bear a passing resemblance to the C-Class, and the other SUV models in the range, and is yet another model that serves little purpose, when there are other models that can and do, fill the same needs.

The baby of the range, the A-Class, has over time gotten bigger and more bulbous, and personally MB has lost the plot on this car, the original A-Class was a good looking car that was small enough to be a proper shopping cart, but not to small to impact on sister brands Smart cars, but the A-Class is now bigger, and more lumpy, it has lost the charm of the original, and with the new face lifted model coming soon, expect the same again, why have an A-Class, when the B will do the same ?

They have tried an failed to kill off the G-Class, so they have just made it wilder and wilder, and now we know there will be a replacement, that will look nearly the same, but more modern, the G63 AMG 6x6 is an enormous truck with serious road presence, and it will be replaced, initially with the G63 AMG 4x4, it could come with as much as 537bhp, and that growl that the AMG cars all come with, if you haven't heard it, just watch any Formula One race, as they are usually there sounding like it will eat anything in its path. ?

The last mode to get the change this year is the SLK, again being renamed to fit within the new naming structure the SLC, as it will be known, will be a face lifted car that may well look like the AMG GT, and that's no bad thing, yes I know, i moaned that the lazy design at MB is back, but the AMG GT is a beautiful car, and a smaller version, would equally be a stunner, with any luck, expect the same retracting hard top and an AMG flagship, but also expect a price rise too, and not a small one either.

Mini

Cooper S John Cooper Works – April 2015
Clubman – summer 2015

For those that know me well, know i am not really a fan of the BMW MINI range, yes I did have a Countryman for a couple of years, WHY !!!!, and I wouldn't consider another, ever, but when Alec Issigonis designed the original Mini way back in the 1950's, they served a purpose, they were built for a reason, and not just sales, the oil crisis back then required car makers to bring in frugal cars, this was BMC's answer, but today the BINI (as i call them) are built for fashion first, profits second, and with reliability and practicality way down the list, its not surprising they are not that exceptionally well respected.

Anyway, i have digressed too much, the hardtop, as the new three door MINI is known will get a 2.0 litre turbocharged 228bhp engine and will be priced at the high end of £22k, and that's a lot of money for a small car, you can get a brand new Jag for £4k more.

There are many rumours doing the rounds lately with the Coupe, Roadster and Paceman all earmarked for cancellation, due to poor sales, this will allow the Countryman to be brought from Austria to Oxford and be produced in the UK for the first time, it is also rumoured that the new Clubman Will also be the last one, they had spent to much money already to just cancel it, so expect the new one to not be as updated as other ranges, although, the look of this new one, is far better than the original, so it might actually sell this time around.

Mitsubishi

L200 - September 2015

So many rumours and so many untruths, are being foisted Mitsubishi's way of late, the Mirage is a dire little thing and should be canned before it does any more damage to the reputation, but onto new stuff, which is why were here, the only new product coming our way this year will be a heavily face lifted L200, the Triton will get an all new face, which, on the look of it below, is not a bad effort, the L200, has been a very good seller for the brand, so the need to keep it fresh and relevant was noted early on, and i fell they ave succeeded here, it is different enough to keep it selling, but similar enough to not alienate existing owners, a great job done.

Nissan

Juke Nismo RS – early 2015
370Z facelift – early 2015
Murano – late 2015
Pulsar Nismo – late 2015

2015 is the year of the NISMO for Nissan, firstly we will be receiving the Nismo Juke, the flagship sporty version of the none too pretty small SUV/Crossover, but the NISMO has managed to both tone down the visually challenged basic model, yet add enough to make it aggressive and more focused, the NISMO brand might not necessarily be a range that would suit such a car as the Juke, but here it has worked, it should be getting somewhere near 220bhp, and if you want one, you can get it now, but at £22k its not a cheap car. 

The original Z-Range of Datsuns were stunning little cars, and when Nissan said they would be bringing us the 350Z and then the 370Z we were well chuffed, they have achieved exactly what they set out to do, and that's to bring a range of sports cars to a bland range of cars (as they were then), since then Nissan seems to have had a magic wand waved over them, as most of the products have a decent amount of design to them, to make them, a buyers choice once again, all they need to do now, is dump the current Micra, and give us a more palatable version.

The Juke and Qashqai have given Nissan a massive shot in the arm with regards to sales, and now it s the turn of the big SUV, the Murano, it has gone from a blobby car to a sharp, design led crossover, that will be able to hold its head high against all it's rivals and beat most of them !

Lastly the Pulsar will be getting the NISMO treatment, it was first shown at Paris last year, and won a lot of people over with its aggressive stance to its space and comfort, the Pulsar is a direct replacement for the Almera, which was originally replaced by the Qashqai, but some people are not interested in an SUV, they would prefer to buy a "proper" car, I have yet to see a Pulsar on the roads, but that's not to say they are not selling, its just that i have not seen them, this new sporty version, will appeal to another type of driver, thus expanding the range of the car further.

Peugeot

308 GT – spring 2015
2008 – summer 2015

It would not be a surprise to see that Peugeot were going to have a rest this year, after a very busy few years which have gained the brand its youngest full range of cars in its history, but they are not resting on their laurels, this year we may not get any all new cars, but a couple of derivatives, firstly the 308 GT, it leads the charge in sporty models for the brand and apes the GTi for bare, the GT should get over 200bhp from the 1.6 litre Turbo, and will get revised suspension set-ups and interior treatments to differentiate it from the lower down modes in the range.

The very well received 2008 Crossover/SUV, like the 308 won't be getting a makeover, just subtle changes here and some new engines and gearboxes, and that's about it, PSA (Peugeot-Citroen-DS) have just retaken the crown for the lowest corporate CO2 levels, so expect some of these engines to produce even better levels, well below 100g/km, and mated to better gearboxes, this should be so easily achievable that they should retain the crown next year as well, but only time will tell.

Porsche

911 facelift – late 2015
911 GT3 RS – summer 2015
Cayman facelift – late 2015
Boxster facelift – late 2015
Cayenne GTS – spring 2015

For such a small company, Porsche are a real big force in the car markets of the world, they are hugely profitable, have products that everyone wants, and continue to develop these products all the time, hence why this year we get a raft of refreshed and enhanced models, firstly we have the 911, this will get yet another facelift, not that you can really tell them apart anymore, but there will be more sleek body panels and improved interiors, the 991 generation 911 will also switch to turbo power too.

Last year Porsche had a rather unhappy time with the 911 GT3, having to recall every model and replace the engines as they caught fire, now this has been rectified, they are launching the RS version during the summer, this Will also have the facelift which will be completed for the year end.

The Boxster/Cayman brothers both receive facelifts this year, to make them a little more muscular and better screwed together, the Caymen will receive a GT4 version while the Boxster will get a four cylinder, 400bhp engine, which will also find a home in the Cayman,

Lastly for the sports car maker, their first SUV, the Cayenne will have some adjustments, mainly the GTS will swap the V8 for a twin turbo 3.6 litre V6, the Panamera and Macan get nothing this year, so expect these to have some tweaks in 2016.

Radical

SR3 RSX – early 2015
SR8 SX – quarter one 2015

I don't know a lot about Radical, but the SR3 RSX will get a Suzuki four cylinder power plant which will be placed in the updated lightweight track special, and the new flagship model, the SR8 SX will be powered by a 3.0 litre V8 which should be good for about 440bhp and will cost somewhere around £130k, now that's a lot for a car that looks like a kit car, parts bin special, is it worth it, well, in my eyes, I wouldn't spend that much on a car like this, but i am sure there are some that will.

Renault

Kadjar – summer 2015

Like Peugeot, Renault have been rather busy lately, and its not stopping just yet, after the very successful launch of the Clio, Captur and Twingo, we now have the oddly named Kadjar, it does not really roll off the tongue that well, but i am sure we will get used to it.

It is loosely based on the Nissan Qashqai, and will take the fight to its competitors with the same vigour as the Captur did, and that's been a huge success for them, it will get its premiere at Geneva, and be available from the Summer, pricing yet to be finalised, but it will be competitive, if the other latest releases are anything to go by.

Rolls-Royce

Wraith convertible – autumn 2015

Rolls Royce under BMW control has been a success, volumes are growing year on year, new models are being launched, and derivatives of those are coming thick and fast, we had the Phantom first followed by the Ghost, the underpinnings of the Ghost then brought us the wraith, and now we get a convertible Wraith, I am not a fan of the Wraith fast back look or the Phantom, but the Ghost is a different story, that's a proper rolls, and one I would consider if i ever had the money, The Wraith will be, like all other RR, a technical marvel, built to prove a point, and to show off, this convertible, like the Corniche from decodes back, will be seen in hot climate area's and not really in the UK, as we don't really get decent enough weather for long periods of time to warrant such an expensive car.

Sin

R1 – early 2015

I know nothing of this brand, except it was shown at last years Goodwood Festival of Speed (GFoS), and is a new lightweight sports car which uses a Chevy-sourced 6.2-litre V8 with 444bhp, other than that, i know nothing, yet.....

Seat

Leon ST Cupra – spring 2015
Ibiza facelift – summer 2015
Leon SUV – 2016

SEAT has become what Alfa should be for FIAT, a sporty brand that sells cars that people actually want, and that's mainly down to one model, the LEON, we get two LEON derivatives this year, the first being the Estate or ST, which gets the CUPRA make over, every CUPRA model made so far has been a seriously great car, so expect this one to carry on that tradition.

Next we get the last changes to teh ever green Ibiza, the car that really, started it all for SEAT around the globe, there will be a final round of nips and tucks before an all new model arrives in a year or two, which leaves us to teh last of this years SEATS, and the second LEON derivative, and the big one, SEAT will be getting their very own SUV at long last, there will also be a Skoda version too, this makes it viable for VW to spin off as many models from the one set up, so expect the SEAT and Skoda to look visually the same, but with differing lights and interior trim details, think VW up, Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii, and you will get it.

Sales of the SUV should be significantly high enough for them to continue development on a second SUV, and possibly a third, the LEON Will be the medium sized version, with a larger one to come and a smaller one if, an when the other two are successful.

Subaru

Outback – April 2015
Levorg – November 2015

Subaru is becoming rather weird of late, they keep chopping and changing the way they do things, and not giving the buying public what they are calling out for, but giving us more estate cars, who knows what's in their minds, we just have to accept that they are doing the right thing.

Firstly the new Outback 'allroad' estate car arrives, a more up to date model, with new kit and looks, the boxer engines and four wheel drive system remain for the car, but expect all new everything else, the flagship Legacy will not be coming to the UK with the new model, instead we get a new car, the Levorg, I don't know why but i keep thinking about alien villains from Star Trek when i say Levorg, it is nothing special to look at, but it will keep the things we all need in a Subaru, and the AWD and Boxer engines, other than that, its a new proposition, so we don't know whet to expect from the car.

Skoda

Fabia – January 2015
Superb – autumn 2015

Two all new cars from Skoda this year, one we already have, and that's the Fabia, so nothing really new to talk about here, the other is the all new Superb, it is built on the VW Groups MQB platform, and will have a longer wheelbase than that of the Passat, from early looks, it will ape most VW group cars on the inside, which is a real shame, and no doubt the exterior will also be a cross between a VW and AUDI, so if you take away the badging, you would be hard pressed to say which brand it came from, and that really is a shame, Skoda has a rich and varied history, forget all the stupid jokes, they had a design that was instantly a Skoda, but no longer, there has been talk from the top of Skoda that they will be looking to make their cars more SKodaish, LOL, but only time will tell is that ever happens.

Smart

Fortwo – spring 2015
Forfour – spring 2015

Both the Fortwo and Forfour are now available to order in the UK, and as such there is little extra we can add, the cars are light year away from the previous versions, but today the Forfour is just a stretched Fortwo, easy to build, cheaper to spec, so hopefully now, Mercedes will start to make some profits from Smart, as they have not done so so far.

Spyker

B6 – 2015

Spyker’s Porsche 911 rival was seen in production form in early 2013, but an exact on sale date is still unknown, and now that the Spyker brand has been taken out of bankruptcy, there should be a good chance of the car being made, Victor Muller wants to take the brand and merge it with an electric plane maker, and continue to develop and build cars in Europe, whether that will work is anyones guess, and only time will tell is they can make a go of it this time around.

At least this time there is no SAAB brand for them to put all their eggs into and then lose the lot, I still can't figure out how he thought that he could make a go of it when a mass brand like GM could not, but hey, SAAB has been saved again, so with any luck they will be back as well.

SsangYong

Tivoli – June

Not known for building the prettiest cars is the world, Ssangyong is a brand that can build off roaders and pick ups, and that is where they should stay, for the present time at least, the Korando the make is a really good looking car, whereas the Tivoli is not, the front looks too busy, with to many lines, curves, lights and colours, I am also not a fan of all the creases and curves on the side, the rear one would be fine, the one over the front wheel looks just wrong.

This car will compete with the Juke and Captur, and won't win, even with a very tempting price, Ssangyong is not a brand that readily comes to peoples minds, and that's a shame, as the Korando is a model that deserves to do well, like this one, but this one will struggle.

Suzuki

Celerio – February
Vitara – April

Oh dear, when a car maker makes a cock up, they usually do it so no one knows, unfortunately Suzuki has made a rather large one, and it was the motoring press that it happened too, twice, the new Celerio is a very competent small car, as are all small cars from Suzuki, unfortunately this one, at the hands of an "Autocar" and "What car" journalist decided not to STOP when they put their foot hard on the brakes at 80mph, something went catastrophically wrong, the brake pedal went to the floor, did not come back up and the drivers had to use engine braking and the hand brake to get the car to stop, TWICE.

That said the £8k car will be fixed, and it will be a perfectly good car that will do well, it is such a shame that this was not found before motoring journos got hold of them first.

The Vitara has been a part of Suzuki's lineup for a long while now, and the all new version comes on stream around April, it is based on another Suzuki platform, the S-Cross, so it is a tried and tested set up, and will carry on where the current version ends, and that's a great car, that does everything just right, Suzuki has an envied reputation, so it is a real surprise that this issue with the Celery, oops Celerio has happened now.

Tesla

Model X – autumn 2015

Tesla is a brand that's going to take the world by storm, as long as the Americans can stop being so stuck up their own AH's, the brand of Tesla is a breath of fresh air, quite literally, the battery powered cars that will be made by the company over the coming years will only get better and cheaper, the current Model S is beautiful, and is so technically advanced that other brands are running scared, that's the only way i can see it.

To try and ban the cars from being sold in certain states of the US just smacks of desperation, Tesla do not, as yet, make significant numbers in cars, so really they are not hurting other well established brands, yet, to try and buy these cars is certain area's is quite difficult, whether that's the auto manufacturers showing their teeth or the states legislation depts being stupid, is debatable, either way, Tesla is here and here to stay.

The next car to come will be the model X large seven seat Sports utility vehicle which is based upon the mechanicals of the Model S saloon/sedan, it has standard opening doors to the front but the concept has gull wing doors to the rear, a first in any car that i can think of, and one that really will make the difference, the four wheel drive system, also carried over from the Model S, is tried and tested, and will give the buyer the confidence of getting about whatever the conditions.

The brand is expanding hard in Europe and in the UK, they are opening a number of charging posts, ready to push the brand and gain a much needed foothold in this part of the world, and as long as they can just get on with it, without the grief from other brands of government, Tesla will soon be a brand that is building cars nearly the half million to a million mark, and i expect this to be happening in the medium term, there are some huge plans for this brand.

Trion

Nemesis – January 2016

Another hypercar manufacturer that no one has really heard of, i know very little of this brand and its intentions, except to say that the car should be capable of 2000bhp, yes TWO THOUSAND, how they plan to put all the power through the wheels is anyones guess, but it is rumoured for a late 2015 preview and a 2016 launch, i look forward to seeing this car when it is out.

Toyota

Mirai – summer 2015
Avensis facelift – summer 2015
Prius – December 2015

Toyota can not be blamed for making dull cars, well, not anymore, the new Mirai is one dog of a car, I bet even Ssangyong would wince at this design, and we know they make visually challenged cars. The Mirai is the brands new Hydrogen powered car,  and sports a look only a blind mother could love, I have no doubts that it will be very technically advanced and well made, but the could have done a whole lot better in the design dept.

Along with a new facelift for the Avensis saloon and estate range of cars comes a new diesel, and one that will be extremely good, it is a BMW powerplant, so you can be assured that it will be good, and should give the aging Avensis a huge boost to sales that have been lagging of late.

And lastly we have the Prius, the car that has given Toyota green credentials, the fourth gen model will be more of an evolution rather than an all out revolution, expect the car to be similar in size to the outgoing version, and don't expect it to look much different too, as they say why bother changing for changes sake, and if VW can do it with all their cars, why not Toyota.

Vauxhall

Corsa – January 2015
Adam S – March 2015  
Viva – June 2015
Astra – October 2015

2015 is definitely a huge year for the Luton based car company, we have already seen the Corsa come to market, and it has already carried on from where the last gen left off, there has been some big sales and so far some big discounts too, I cant understand why Vauxhall dealers are already offering substantial discounts, one is even selling brad new Corsa models for cost plus £1.00, i am sure there must be more to it than that, but it is a genuine main dealer offer, and one i am really surprised to see, the new Corsa VXR has been "outed" already and looks a might beast, and far far more aggressive than the last gen.

The ADAM was a weird car, it is a small hatchback that competed against the Corsa and outgoing Agila, it was supposedly a quality car, but was greeted with complaints from others for being too weird looking, and that name, really ! but it has sold well in Europe, and so much so that the new S model will come with a turbocharged 1.4 litre, it will also have a host of chassis and styling upgrades to make it just that little bit more special, and expensive.

The Vauxhall Viva is back, it might not be a rusty saloon car anymore, but the all new small hatchback city car will have a name that many people will fondly remember, i even had one, and it was not a bad car at all, this one will replace the Agila, and will be very keenly priced, to cash in on the budget brands that seem to be doing well at present.and lastly the Astra.

An all new British built Astra will be launched at the end of the year, it will be a huge step up from the current model, which has been a big hit for Vauxhall/Opel, there will be Hatch, Saloon and estate versions, the Saloon may even get a look in in the UK for the first time in many years, everything from a budget priced model right upto the potent VXR model will be available within a short period of time from launch, it will get its world debut at Frankfurt in September, and should go on sale shortly thereafter.

Vencer

Sarthe – early 2015

If i was to say to you that a plumber from the Netherlands has built a quarter of a million pound super car, would you believe me, no, me neither, but here it is, Vencer is a Supercar that actually looks half decent, the Sarthe, at £250,000 should be launched anytime soon, no other details are available as yet, but when they are you will be the first to read them here.

Volvo

XC90 – May 2015
V60 Cross Country – June 2015

Volvo has gone through a renaissance of late, all models have been given a small update to the looks, with new bumpers, colours and trim, ready for an all out assault of new cars, the first of which is the XC90, long in the gestation period, and now after a decade we get a new one, it is a total change, with the exception of the size, which is still rather large, it is vastly superior to the model that came before, in all area's and will give Volvo the boost it needs in the USA where it is dropping sales year after year, whereas the rest of the world is seeing growth.

The V60 is another of Volvo's big sellers, and now with the addition of Cross Country upgrades, it moves into another niche, where the other CC models have also been so successful, the V60 should manage to sell some significant models, there is also talk of a CC version of a saloon car, if this comes off, it will give Volvo another range of cars, however, something is missing, and that's something small, and something sporty, the C30 was a big hit in the UK, and the V40 does not really replace it, and since the demise of the p1800 and 480, there has been no sporty version, this, Volvo needs to address, get it into the Swedish Touring cars, or better still European or World TCC, and sales will flow.

Volkswagen

Passat – January 2015
Golf GTE – spring 2015
Polo GTI – spring 2015
Polo BlueMotion – spring 2015
Passat GTE – mid-2015

The new Passat is already out and about, and looks like it will carry on being a big hit, but then as they have made very little change, it will, VW loves to replace each model with a car that looks very like the car it replaces, just look at the last couple of generations of Golf and Polo, or even Beetle, and you will see what I mean, they don't want to take a risk, and that's makes their cars boring, but then most brands do this now, as they are scared of developing a flop, the Passat is a case in point, it is very much like the car it replaces, yet it is, all new, after spending some time with the new car and a lot of time with the old, it is easy to forget you're in a different car.

The new MK VII Golf will spawn a hybrid and be called a GTE, to go with the GTI and GTD, it will be available in hatch and estate, it also boosts some impressive speed and 0-60 numbers along with very impressive fuel consumption and co2 numbers, don't expect a bargain though, as with all VW products, pricing is on the high side, and that's a shame as the "peoples Car" is moving away from a car for the people and into a car for those that have more income spare, even the baby UP and Polo are getting a tad dear, and that's a shame, the constant fight for sales and profits has turned the brand into a machine rather than a design and people led company. 

The Polo will gain a GTI version, which will be a really quick pocket rocket, it wont be cheap but then what VW's are these days, but it will be reasonably well equipped and have the styling touches you expect when buying a car with the pedigree of a GTI, number will be limited as sales of the POLO GTI have never really been that high, but you may see the odd one or two about, if you can tell the difference between this generation and the last one.

Along with a few styling upgrades and the new Polo will also sport the Bluemotion badge again, it will extremely economical, at the expense of outright power and speed, but if you just want a very eco friendly car that is well made and you not fussed that it looks the same as previous gen cars then the Bluemotion Polo could well be the car for you.

Mid year will see the arrival of the potent Passat hybrid, the GTE badged car will get some very impressive numbers from 215bhp to a MPG figure of over 140, yes one hundred and forty, this will make it an ideal version for the business user, it will showcase the same slatted front bumper treatment as on the GTE Golf, giving the GTE a familiar family face, the previous gen Bluemotion 2.0 diesel estate, which we arr currently running long term, frequently gets high 60's and even on a long run we managed to get the car into the 70's, mainly because i was driving and i do tend to rive like a slowcoach, either way this new model will definitely be very popular, and in demand worldwide, so expect a rather heady waiting list.

AND LAST, BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST...........

Zenos Cars

E10 S - January 2015

Well, we are here at last, the final major release for teh year, and it was supposed to be launched in January, ,but nothing has, as yet, been seen in other motoring press or further press releases, Zenos, is based, Like Lotus Cars, in Norfolk, England, and last year launched the E10 at the Autosport International Show, this year they are launching a more powers S variant, it should have close to 250bhp and be capable of some stunning speed figures with its low power to weight ratio, more news when we get it.

So that's it, two very long posts detailing the new cars for this year, and some into next year, there has been a few surprises, a few expected, a lot of all new and updated and a couple of unknowns, there are also a lot of other brands and models that have not made it to the list, and more about those as they become available, but so far, with only 6 weeks of the year gone, 2015 is definitely going to be a huge year for the UK motor industry, as it is, the below pics are the cars that i am really looking forward to, and ones that we will be doing some road tests on in the coming weeks.

Audi A6 Avant 2.0 Litre, SE Ultra.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate C220 BlueTEC SE

Range Rover Evoque 2.2 litre SD4 Dynamic

Citroen C4 Cactus e-HDi 92 ETG

So, Thank you for taking some considerable time reading the two launch posts, and I hope you have a great 2015, and if your getting a new car this year, let us know what you think, do a road test for us, with pics and blurb, and get it published here, just let me know...