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Visit autoexpress.co.uk for all the latest new cars news VOTING can be a hugely emotive process, as the past couple of weeks here in the UK have demonstrated. I won’t pretend the sessions we held to decide our New Car Awards winners of 2016 were quite as tumultuous as the Brexit debate, but as you might imagine there were some pretty strong opinions expressed. The talent pool in the current new car market is particularly deep, so picking the models we consider to be the best on sale was far from easy. And of course, we fully recognise how important it is to get the decisions right. We’re in the privileged position of being first to drive every new model that appears, and we know many of you wait until…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “C3 is likely to be smaller than the next Fiesta and Polo, but a boot capacity of 300 litres is decent for a supermini” THE all-new C3 will be a crucial car for Citroen when it’s released early next year, because it’s the maker’s first mainstream model since the DS sub-brand was carved off to become a manufacturer in its own right. After losing the DS 3 from its own line-up, Citroen needs the C3 to succeed to prove that it can still make a successful small car with the double-chevron badge, and take on the likes of the Ford Fiesta. The newcomer’s exterior styling builds on the family traits shown in the C4 Picasso and incorporates some key elements from the quirky C4 Cactus. At the front,…

“Next Citroen launch is likely to be based on the Aircross concept” John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy “Citroen could give the Aircross the ‘C5’ suffix and call it the C5 Aircross” CITROEN is also promising to take a radical approach to its next C4 and C5 models – and that could mean dropping the regular bodystyles to build SUVs instead, Auto Express can reveal. The ultra-conservative C4 and C5 now look increasingly outdated compared with the rest of Citroen’s range, which features the refreshed C4 Picasso and the C4 Cactus. Speaking at the launch event of the new C3 (Page 8), product boss Xavier Peugeot said that while a new C4 is part of the brand’s planned eight ‘silhouettes’ (bodystyles), it may not be a regular rival for the Ford Focus. “There will…

“We expect it to weigh in at around 900kg, meaning around 900bhp is entirely feasible” Sam_Naylor@dennis.co.uk @SamNaylor_AE ASTON Martin has finally revealed its AM-RB 001 hypercar, developed with the Red Bull Racing Formula One team. The project has been headed up by Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s chief creative officer, and Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing’s chief technical officer. The AM-RB 001 has been designed to be used on the road and track, but there are actually two versions in the works: a road car and a track-only version. It’s expected the latter will deliver performance to match an LMP1 Le Mans racer. A mid-mounted V12 engine provides the power, with no turbos in sight. The engine is naturally aspirated, and Aston says it’s a high-revving unit capable of a 1:1…

Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn “Even larger and more practical seven-seat Duster will arrive in 2018” DACIA has just surpassed four million global car sales since 2004, and the budget brand will look to keep that momentum going with a wave of new models, Auto Express can reveal. Key to its plans will be an all-new Duster in 2017, but to capitalise on the ever-increasing SUV market, an even larger and more practical seven-seat version – possibly badged the Grand Duster – will arrive the following year. It’s understood the new Duster will usher in a fresh design language for the brand, and the Grand Duster will adopt the new look, too. Shown in our exclusive images, the large SUV will swap the chunky and boxy look of the current five-seater for a…

Prices announced for baby Audi SUV AUDI has announced prices for its Q2 SUV (above), with the 1.0 TFSI petrol in SE spec due to cost £20,230. These entry-level cars come with Audi’s MMI multimedia infotainment system as standard, as well as 16-inch wheels and Bluetooth connectivity. The flagship Q2 S line with a 2.0-litre engine tops out at £30,610, but a First Edition will be available at launch. PAGE 36: Audi Q2 TDI driven More brands sign up to New Car Code SSANGYONG and Infiniti have signed up to the Motor Codes New Car Code of Practice, bringing the total number of manufacturers backing the scheme to 39. The code, which helps to ensure customers receive fair, clear and quality service, now covers 99 per cent of all new…