1996 in motoring

United Kingdom

Ford made its first entry into the city car market with the Fiesta-based Ka, a controversially-styled three-door hatchback powered by the company's long-running 1.3 litre "Endura E" petrol engine and competing with the likes of the Fiat Cinquecento as well as the many Japanese and Far Eastern offerings which dominate the budget car market. It has also given a facelift to its three-year-old Mondeo range, which maintains the old model's key strengths of an excellent driving experience but is very much the same car that debuted back in early 1993.

Jaguar has called time on XJS production after 21 years and replaced it with the all-new XK8. The new 4.0 V8 engined luxury coupe and cabriolet range comes with a luxurious interior, high equipment levels, a smooth but extremely sporty ride, and a distinctive style which harks back to the classic E-Type sports car of 1961. It ensures that Jaguar now has a class-leading 2+2 grand tourer that is as desirable as the XJ saloon.

France

Renault has once again created a new market niche with its Scenic, a five-seater "mini MPV" which is based on the Megane hatchback running gear but has the practicality and versatility of a people carrier. Its 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 petrol engines are sourced from the highly-acclaimed Megane hatchback range, as is the impressively refined 1.9 turbo-diesel. Prices are only slightly higher than those of the standard car, and nothing else at this price is anywhere near as practical.

At the upper end of the MPV market, Renault has relaunched the iconic Espace in an all-new format for the first time since its launch eleven years ago.

Peugeot has given its five-year-old 106 mini-car a facelift to keep it on even terms with its competitors, while Citroën has adopted the design for its AX replacement. The new Saxo is little more than a tweaked 106, but like its Peugeot twin is one of the best-handling mini-cars on the market. The 1.6-litre engined "VTR" and "VTS" hot hatchback models are particularly impressive to drive, and are among the fastest cars ever made in this sector.

Germany

Volkswagen has launched the latest version of its Passat family car in an all-new format, nine years after the previous generation Passat was launched and three years since the Passat received its latest facelift. The new Passat has smooth, distinctive styling which houses a spacious, comfortable and upmarket interior. Equipment levels are high, and there is a strong range of engines ranging from a modest 1.6 petrol to a high-speed 2.8 V6, along with an impressively refined 1.9 turbo-diesel. It sets new class standards in many different areas, and next year's MK4 Golf - competing in the sector below - is set to follow suit.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen called time on production of the Corrado coupe after eight years.

BMW replaced the 5 Series medium sized executive car with an all-new model after nine years. The latest 5 Series is visually similar to its predecessor, but is in reality an all-new car. It maintains the traditional BMW hallmarks of solid build quality, excellent ride and handling, high equipment levels and exclusivity which BMW has somehow managed to achieve with just about all of its products.

Audi moved downmarket with the launch of its new A3. The A3 is a three-door hatchback which is the first car to be launched on a new platform that will spawn the next generation Volkswagen Golf as well as forthcoming new models from Skoda and SEAT. It is powered by 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines as well as the impressive 1.9 turbo-diesel. Equipment and quality levels are about as high as they have ever been in this sector of car, hence the relatively high asking price.

Spain

SEAT moved into the multi-purpose vehicle market with the Alhambra. It uses the same design as the Volkswagen Sharan and Ford Galaxy, as well as the same engines, and will be built alongside these cars in Portugal.

Japan

Honda launched an all-new version of its Prelude sporting coupe. The latest Prelude is a less dramatic-looking creation than its predecessor, but like its precessor it is a solidly-built and swift sports model which should prove reliable. It is designed as a direct competitor for the likes of the Toyota Celica and Alfa Romeo GTV.

The Nissan Primera entered its second incarnation, six years after replacing the Bluebird. The latest Primera is a bland-looking but strong-handling range of family hatchbacks and saloons which capitalise on Nissan's long-established reputation for building solid and durable cars. The 1.6 petrol and 2.0 diesel engines don't have much in the way of performance, but the range-topping 2.0 petrol is an impressive powerful and refined unit. It gives Nissan a strong competitor for the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra and Peugeot 406, and like its predecessor will be built at the Sunderland plant in northern England. Nissan's Japanese plant will also produce a version of the Primera, while the American version will be badged as the Infiniti G20.

ee also

*1995 in motoring - the previous year
*1997 in motoring - the next year