1997 in motoring

United Kingdom

A year after launching the Ka city car, Ford has spawned another car from its Fiesta chassis in the shape of the Puma - a 2+2 compact sports coupe with quirky but distinctive styling. Its entry-level 1.4 16-valve Zetec engine is sourced from the Fiesta, but the larger 1.7 unit is seen only in the Puma and is significantly more powerful than the Fiesta-sourced engine. The Puma handles better than just about any other front-wheel drive car currently on sale in Britain, and its only real criticism is the shortage of space in the rear seats.

Vauxhall has pulled the plug on production of its Calibra coupe range after eight years. It has no immediate successor, though there are long-term plans for a coupe version of the next generation Astra hatchback.

Italy

The European Car of the Year award for 1998 goes to the Alfa Romeo 156. It is a sporty-looking four-door saloon aimed directly at the class-leading likes of the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. As a rival for its dominant German competitors, the Alfa is hard to beat when it comes to style, refinement and driver appeal. Equipment levels are also good and the Alfa is one of the most competitively priced cars in its sector. In fact it is more comparable with the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra when it comes to pricing. The four-door saloon is the only model in the current 156 range, but a "Sportwagon" estate car is proposed for a later date.

Fiat has facelifted the Cinquecento city car after six years on sale and given it a new name - Seicento. The Seicento is a reworking of its predecessor with curvier detailing replacing the old car's boxy looks, with the bog-standard 700cc engine being dropped and the continuing 900cc unit being available with clever "Citymatic" semi-automatic transmission - with a normal manual-style gear-lever but no clutch.

France

Citroën is calling time on ZX production after seven years to make way for an all-new car - the Xsara. The Xsara is a conventionally-styled hatchback which offers very little to set the pulse racing, but has plenty of appeal for customers who have less interest in cars. Its asking price is competitive, running costs are low, and the interior offers good levels of space and comfort. The 1.9 diesel engine is particularly refined and economical. The hatchbacks and estate are practical and comfortable family cars, while the coupe - in reality little more than a three-door hatchback - offers a powerful 2.0 "VTS" version which is capable of nearly 140mph. A mini-MPV, in the style of Renault's recent Megane Scenic, is expected in two years.

Germany

The Volkswagen Golf has entered its fourth generation in the most upmarket form seen yet. It has the look of its predecessor, but in reality is an all-new car. The latest Golf will initially be sold as a hatchback only, with estate and cabriolet versions expected in 1998. Entry-level Golfs use 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines as well as a 1.9 diesel, with more expensive versions including the 1.9 turbo-diesel as well as the four GTI models - 1.8 non-turbo, 1.8 turbo, 2.0 and 2.3 V5. The Golf's interior is well-equipped and upmarket, which justifies its higher asking price than other similar-sized cars. A saloon version - the Bora - replaces the Vento next year, and promises to be more of a car in its own right than the "Golf-with-a-boot" image that always let down the Golf-based Jettas and Ventos.

Audi has canned the 100 nameplate after 29 years and replaced it with the nametag A6. Designed as a direct competitor for the BMW 5 Series, the A6 is a stylish, comfortable, solid and refined saloon and estate ("Avant") range that looks just the part to complete the recent turnaround at Audi which has seen its desirability surge and become at least a match for its key rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz has hit the headlines with two innovative new models. The first is the A-Class, its first front-wheel drive car. But the most significant thing about the German marque's new entry-level model is its clever one-cube design which allows plenty of interior space thanks to its high roof on a chassis the size of a mini-cars. The other addition to the Mercedes range is the SLK - a two-seater sports car with a folding convertible-style steel roof and a supercharged 2.3 litre engine capable of 150mph. It is designed as a direct competitor to two new rival sports cars that have recently come from Germany - the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3.

Japan

Two of Japan's most famous nameplates - Honda's Accord and Toyota's Corolla - were updated for 1998. Neither model is particularly exciting or distinctive, but they both look set to perpetuate their long-standing reputations for excellent build quality and reliability.

ee also

*1996 in motoring - the previous year
*1998 in motoring - the next year