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WITH SUVs dominating more and more buyers’ thoughts these days, the good old saloon car has taken something of a back seat. Sales of traditional ‘three-box’ cars have tumbled, with the D-segment that covers everything from Mondeo to 3 Series propped up by sexier five-door versions like the Audi A5 and 4 Series. But the saloon car is about to make a comeback, and not only because of the arrival of an all-new 3 Series (above) – still a crucial big-seller for BMW. A couple of months ago I was at the unveiling of a new challenger to the 3 Series: Volvo’s S60 – a great-looking car in anybody’s eyes. While I was there I got some interesting insight into the future of the saloon car from Volvo CEO Håkan…

Sean_Carson@dennis.co.uk @sean_carson_ • Early verdict on top-selling BMW, due to debut at Paris show • Seventh generation’s CLAR platform brings big weight saving WE’LL see an all-new BMW 3 Series unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October, but ahead of the car’s official launch in the autumn, Auto Express has already had a drive of a prototype next-generation 3 Series saloon. To give you some insight into just how popular and important a model this is for BMW, the outgoing version (codenamed F30) enjoyed sales of more than 190,000 examples in its final full year in dealers, despite being due for replacement. In fact, it’s the German firm’s bestselling product, and the UK accounts for a great chunk of that popularity (24,000 of those 190,000 cars in 2017). So…

DYNAMICS are a key area for the new 3 Series to get right. Jos van As and his team were tasked with achieving that aim. Here he explains how they did it. Q What were the targets for the new 3 Series? A “The 3 Series has to be the best-handling car in its class; our customers have a certain expectation. I told you this car feels like an ‘old-school’ BMW, so that’s what we’ve tried to do: make it engaging and fun to drive. But improving the comfort alongside this was also an important point, while adding more assistance and safety systems as well as extra tech.” Q Where are the big advances in this seventh-generation car over its predecessor? A “We understand the model’s platform even better now,…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy Peugeot 2008 Due: 2020 OUR exclusive image previews the look of the next 2008. Peugeot will be hoping to recreate the success of its bigger SUV brothers. The 2008 will be longer but lighter than the current model. • Exclusive image previews baby SUV, evolving look of 3008 • Set to offer petrol, diesel and, eventually, mild-hybrid power PEUGEOT has scored huge hits with its two most recent SUVs: the 3008 and 5008. And now the French firm is preparing a total overhaul of those cars’ baby brother, the 2008, which is due to be revealed in autumn 2019, ahead of sales starting the following year. The 2008’s first appearance, probably at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2019, will be part of a logical roll-out of new…

Nissan Juke Due: 2019 WHAT WE KNOW: THE car that started the small SUV invasion gets an all-new generation in 2019, and the next Juke will introduce Renault-Nissan’s latest CMF-B platform. Expect a more practical interior with upgraded infotainment and quality – but as our exclusive image previews, the styling will stay divisive. Renault Captur Due: Late 2019 WHAT WE KNOW: RECENT spy shots of a test mule (above) showed how the next generation of Renault’s Captur is going to grow up when it arrives at the end of 2019. The new model is longer and wider than the current car, as Renault tries to deliver more family-car practicality from its baby SUV. Skoda Anuq Due: Late 2019 WHAT WE KNOW: SKODA’S Vision X concept (above) is a good preview…

James_Brodie@dennis.co.uk @jimmybrods “Lynk & Co has claimed that in testing, the hybrid 03 regularly achieves a pure-electric range of 40 miles” • Petrol and plug-in hybrid power for firm’s first four-door LYNK & Co has revealed the final exterior design of the new 03, giving us our first proper look at the Geely-owned brand’s rival for the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class saloons. The production car sticks closely to the styling of the 03 concept revealed at last year’s Shanghai Motor Show, mixing front and rear design cues from the firm’s SUVs into a sportier four-door shape. At the front is the distinctive Lynk & Co face, but the design is more aggressive than what we’ve seen from the marque so far. There’s a sharp crease along the 03’s waistline.…