Autoesque

Alfa Romeo is honouring its sporting heritage by launching high performance Quadrifoglio Verde versions of the MiTo and Giulietta.

One of the highlights of the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show is sure to be Volvo’s new Concept Estate.

Following the launch of the Fabia Monte Carlo a few years ago, Škoda has decided to add the trim grade to its Citigo, Rapid Spaceback and Yeti ranges as well.

Jaguar isn’t doing much wrong at the moment and the new XFR-S Sportbrake looks set to continue the trend.

The new Extreme version of the Vauxhall Astra VXR / Opel Astra OPC certainly lives up to its name.

Next month’s Geneva International Motor Show will see Škoda unveil the new Octavia Laurin & Klement.

The new limited edition Suzuki Swift SZ-L takes the existing SZ3 model and adds a few cosmetic upgrades.

As expected, the all-new Citroën C1 city car is virtually identical to the recently-unveiled Peugeot 108 .

The electric motorcycle market is about to get another contender. Canadian company Lito Green Motion is beginning production of its Sora following a development process that has lasted a few years.

Production of the all-new Nissan NT500 chassis-cab truck has begun in Avila, Spain. Offered with gross vehicle weights from 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes, it replaces the Atleon and sits above the NT400 Cabstar in Nissan’s European commercial vehicle range.

The petrol GTI and diesel GTD have been longstanding members of the Golf range. Now they’re going to be joined by the plug-in hybrid GTE.

A KTM has won the Dakar Rally’s motorcycle class thirteen consecutive times. Now privateers have the opportunity to emulate that success, as the Austrian firm has just introduced the 450 Rally Replica.

Honda has launched two special versions of its CR-V in the UK. Called the Black Edition and White Edition, they’re based on the existing SE-T trim grade.

The first thing to know about the unusual Lotus C-01 motorcycle is that Group Lotus has had no involvement in its development. Rather, the Lotus name has been licensed to German firm Kodewa which is running the project in collaboration with Holzer Group.

There are probably many prospective city car buyers who’d like urban-proof protective body cladding, while others might fancy a full-length electric folding canvas roof. Vauxhall / Opel must believe that enough people want both together, because they feature on the new Adam Rocks trim grade.

Fiat has created a Cross package for its Dodge Journey -based Freemont MPV, a model that’s not marketed in the UK.

Don’t be deceived by the look of the new Citroën C5 CrossTourer. Despite SUV-inspired design details such as the brushed aluminium bash plates and black plastic cladding, it’s no off-roader.

The new tough-looking Fiat Panda Cross is definitely going to be one of the coolest city cars available when sales begin in the autumn.

Land Rover is extending its Range Rover Evoque range with the arrival of the well-appointed Autobiography and Autobiography Dynamic variants.

In the late 1980s Land Rover realised an additional model was needed to fill the growing gap in its range between the ever utilitarian Ninety / One Ten and increasingly luxurious Range Rover. The result was the Discovery, which the company launched twenty-five years ago into a market segment that had already attracted several Japanese rivals.

The McLaren 650S is a more powerful and more focussed version of the 12C. Offered in fixed-roof coupé and convertible Spider guises, that 650S name provides a couple of clues about the newcomer’s abilities.

Mercedes-Benz has abandoned the CL-Class nameplate for its most luxurious two-door. Instead the latest version, which has just been unveiled, will be called the S-Class Coupé.

The diminutive Yamaha YZF-R125 sports bike has received a comprehensive overhaul.

The ability to personalise is almost mandatory in the city car segment nowadays. It’s certainly a theme that the all-new Peugeot 108 embraces.

The new bobber-style Victory Gunner mixes a low single seat, 16” cast 24-spoke wheels, a two-tone paintjob and hardly any chrome.

The all-new 2 Series Active Tourer is BMW’s first front-wheel drive model. Depending on your point of view, that’s either hugely controversial or it won’t matter one iota. As many BMW owners are seemingly unaware that their cars are rear-wheel drive, expect most people to fall into the latter category.

The S60 race car that Volvo Polestar Racing will be running in this year’s V8 Supercars Championship has made its public debut in Sydney, Australia.

Following various limited editions and show cars, Audi has finally decided to introduce a proper production S1.

The finalists in all five 2014 World Car Awards categories have been announced.

David Brown Automotive might be a new brand, but the British firm has already learnt how to do a teaser campaign for its first model.

Škoda has announced that the new Octavia Scout will be unveiled at next month’s Geneva International Motor Show.

Given its association with an audio brand, it’s not really surprising that the main feature of Fiat’s 500L Beats Edition is an upgraded music system.

With its fourth birthday rapidly approaching, BMW has given the second-generation X3 SUV a facelift.

Okay, the obvious thing to say about the 2015 Subaru Legacy saloon is that it bares only a faint resemblance to the striking Legacy Concept which appeared last November. The production version certainly isn’t ugly, but the styling could have been much more exciting.

To coincide with the start of Go hatchback production at the Renault-Nissan Alliance factory near Chennai, India, Datsun has revealed its redi-Go Concept.

MV Agusta has launched a more extreme version of its Brutale 800. Called the Dragster, it’s distinguished by a single seat and hardly any rear bodywork.

Suzuki has announced that its Celerio is going to make an appearance at next month’s Geneva International Motor Show.

Electric motorcycle manufacturer Brammo has updated its Empulse and Empulse R models for 2014.

Renault has gone for an off-road buggy look for its oddly-named Kwid concept, which has just been unveiled at the Delhi Auto Show.

The Bespoke Waterspeed Collection from Rolls-Royce pays homage to the Bluebird K3 hydroplane boat in which Sir Malcolm Campbell set a world waterspeed record in September 1937.

A few months after sales of the 2014 Cherokee began in North America, Jeep has confirmed that its new mid-size SUV will arrive in Europe this April.

Toyota has offered a first glimpse of its TS040 Hybrid, the race car that’ll be competing in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.

Like many car manufacturers nowadays, BMW seems determined to exploit as many market niches as possible. The new five-door 4 Series Gran Coupé is further proof of that mission.

Dodge has revealed the Journey Crossroad ahead of its public debut at the Chicago Auto Show later this month.

The new limited edition Nissan Micra is logically - if not very imaginatively - called the Nissan Micra Limited Edition.

Mercedes has taken the wraps off its new V-Class full-size multi-purpose vehicle.

Volkswagen is introducing a special version of its Amarok pick-up. Called the Canyon, it follows the usual limited edition practice of combining extra kit with some cosmetic touches.