WHAT CAR AWARDS - The Fiesta takes best hot hatch as the Galaxy wins best MPV over £26,000.

The acclaimed Ford Fiesta ST was crowned the UK’s best hot hatch for the fourth consecutive year at the 2017 What Car? Awards.

Enjoyed by over 25,000 owners, Ford Fiesta ST remains a UK favourite since its launch in 2013.

To mark the 40^th anniversary last year of the Ford Fiesta – Britain’s best-selling car every year since 2008 – the ST200 was added to the range, adding a further 18PS to the 182PS available from the existing 1.6-litre Fiesta ST.  Also new last year was a five-door Fiesta ST to complement the original three-door bodystyle.

Steve Huntingford, What Car? editor, said: “The Ford Fiesta ST is impossible to dislike. It leaves rivals trailing on a challenging road because it dives into corners like a terrier chasing a bouncing ball and the steering is full of feel. In normal use, it doesn’t disappoint. Like all Fiestas, the ST has a decent boot and plenty of cubbyholes and is small enough to feel wieldy around town.

“Fiesta ST is the best all-round hot hatch. It strikes the perfect balance between performance and affordability. It lets you attack B-roads without worrying about the width of the car or how powerful it is. In fact, it’s sharper than the BMW M140i, which costs almost £15,000 more. To add to its appeal, the ST combines all of this with the reliability, practicality and dealer coverage that has made the Fiesta top seller.”

The consumer magazine and website, attracting over 1.95 million monthly users, chose the well-equipped Fiesta ST-2, priced at £18,895, as their recommended model complete with heated Recaro front sports seats and Ford Power push button start.

On receiving the award, Lisa Brankin, Ford of Britain marketing director, said: “Performance vehicles, and the thrill they bring to driving, are renowned Ford strengths.  Our new ST-Line range, sitting under ST, to RS and Mustang above it, offer a performance car for everyone.  Thank you What Car? for recognising Fiesta ST - the biggest seller in this exciting 2017 line-up.”   

It is also the fifth successive year that Ford has triumphed in the hot hatch category – prior to Fiesta ST’s four-year run of success, the 250PS Focus ST took the title in 2013.

Ford Galaxy – best MPV (£26,000+)

The new Ford Galaxy is also best Multi-Purpose Vehicle for its price, according to What Car?

What Car? named the Ford Galaxy Zetec with 2.0-litre TDCi 150PS diesel engine as its pick of the range.

USA - The New York Auto Show will get the new Honda Civic's world debut, the 10th gen model is looking good.

• New Turbo technology for manual transmissions confirmed for entire 2017 Civic lineup
• New Civic hatchback prototype offers best look yet at Euro sport hatch-inspired compact car
• Assertive stance and distinctive new design establishes 10th generation as the sportiest Civic ever

The next-generation Civic Hatchback, with its striking design and the promise of a sporty, European-inspired driving experience, today made its North American debut in prototype form just a day before the 2016 New York International Auto Show. 

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. also confirmed that it will marry the all-new 1.5-liter turbo engine to its 6-speed manual transmission for more sporty and dynamic performance. The arrival of the production 2017 Civic Hatchback later this year marks the continued rollout of the 10th-generation Civic lineup, the sportiest and most expansive family of Civics in the car's 44-year history. 

The Civic Sedan was recently named the 2016 North American Car of the Year, and sales of Civic are up 37 percent through the first two months of 2016.

Being built on the same world-class platform as the 10th-generation Civic Sedan, the 2017 Civic Hatchback will be defined by an unparalleled combination of sportiness, efficiency and utility, with distinctive styling and premium features that enthusiasts demand. The five-door hatchback will feature one powertrain for the U.S. market, a 1.5-liter DOHC direct-injected Turbo engine that can be mated to either a sporty CVT or a slick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission.

"The Civic Hatchback wraps the 10-generation Civic platform and five-door hatchback utility in emotional, Euro-inspired styling," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Offered with the first application of the 1.5-liter turbo engine paired with a manual transmission, this sportiest Civic to date will attract a whole new set of enthusiasts buyers to the model and Honda brand."

The Civic Hatchback will launch later this year as the third new Civic variant, joining the 2016 Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe. The 10th-generation Civic lineup will be rounded out in 2017 with the arrival of Civic Si variants and the radical new Civic Type R.

The 2017 Civic Hatchback was developed by the joint efforts of Honda R&D teams in Europe and Japan and is expected to bring new buyers into the Honda showroom here in the U.S.

"We knew that we needed to create a striking and stand-out exterior design that challenged conventional European compact styling while staying true to the original Civic's core values," said Daisuke Tsutamori, chief exterior stylist for the 2017 Civic Hatchback Prototype. "This vehicle represents a marriage of distinctive and sporty design, rewarding driving dynamics and versatile practicality."

New larger and wider wheels and tires give a feeling of an assured stance, while the long wheelbase, short overhangs and sleek cabin area further add to the dynamic feel of the exterior. At the front of the car, a short overhang with large air intakes presents a sharp and aggressive interpretation of Honda's family face. LED headlights and daytime running lights flow from beneath the boldly sculpted hood into the muscular front wheel arches.

The sleek and swept-back body lines continue along the side of the car with a crease that incorporates front and rear door handles before culminating in the distinctive C-shaped LED rear lights. 

A second, lower character line extends from behind the front wheels up through the doors and meets the rear wheel arches, emphasizing the car's dynamic forward-leaning stance. At the rear, the bumper incorporates angular creases and vents, designed to echo the aggressively styled nature of the rest of the car.

The 2017 Civic Hatchback will be produced exclusively at the Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) plant in Swindon.

1 Preliminary mileage ratings determined by Honda. Final EPA mileage ratings not available at the time of printing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, and other factors."