1999 in motoring

United Kingdom

Ford has given its ten-year-old Fiesta supermini its second facelift in four years, grafting its "New Edge" front end styling onto the design which came out in 1989 and was heavily modified in 1995. The latest version of the Fiesta has undergone few changes other than its facelifted front end. It is still as good to drive as before, though its rear seats and boot are still as short on space as they were before. The big news for the updated Fiesta is the addition of the swift "Zetec S" model, which has a 1.6 16-valve Zetec engine and a top speed of nearly 120mph.

Vauxhall has updated the four-year-old Vectra in a bid to bring it nearer to the best cars in its sector. The new Vectra catches up with most of its rivals, but despite many changes - no less than 2,500, according to Vauxhall - it in no way overtakes the likes of the Mondeo and 406. These revisions coincide with Vauxhall becoming one of the world's first manufacturers to sell its cars over the internet, with its clever TV advertising campaign featuring Griff Rhys Jones being influential in rising sales this year.

Rover has endured a fall in its British market share of more than 30% over the last year, and has hit back by updating its two key models. The 200 Series has been facelifted to become the Rover 25. It had originally been designed to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra thanks to its higher equipment and prices, but this strategy was not entirely successful. So the 25 has been marketed as an alternative to the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 206. It is a fine handling car with competitive prices, but its weaknesses are an awkward driving position and a shortage of safety equipment.

The Rover 400 has been facelifted to become the Rover 45, and has been re-positioned to compete with the likes of the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, unlike its predecessor which was seen as more of a Ford Mondeo rival. Apart from a new front end and a new name, the Rover 45 differs little from its predecessor. It is more competitively priced, with most models at least a couple of thousand pounds cheaper than the equivalent 400s were. The 400's success was mostly capitalised on offering a bit more equipment and style than most other similar-sized cars. The Rover 45 tries to perpetuate this, but is feeling a bit dated now.

Japan

Toyota has scored a huge success with its new Yaris supermini, which is the winner of this year's European Car of the Year award. Replacing the long-running Starlet, the Yaris is a stylish small hatchback with a clever high-roof design that maximes interior space. The front of the Yaris is exceptionally spacious for such a small car, while rear seat space can be altered via a sliding rear bench. Other interesting features include an all-digital facial display which does away with traditional dials and clocks. There are only two engines currently on offer; 1.0 and 1.3 petrol engines, both of which have impressively powerful "VVTi" (variable valve timing intelligence) 16-valve engines that also offer a good level of fuel economy. A sporty 1.5 version and an economical diesel will go on sale at a later date, as will the quirky Yaris Verso compact MPV.

Also new to the Toyota range is the latest version of the long-running Celica sporting coupe. With its sharp looks and even sharper handling, the new Celica is a swift four-seater coupe powered by a 1.8 VVTi engine that produces 140bhp and can touch 130mph. Equipment levels are also good. It is all-round improvement over its questionably-styled, expensive predecessor in terms of visual appeal, value for money, refinement and desirability.

Italy

1999 has been a busy year for Fiat. Its Punto supermini has been relaunched in an all-new but instantly recognisable format, which carries over the 1.2 8-valve and 16-valve engines. New to the range are a 1.9 diesel and the impressively fast 1.8 HGT hot hatchback which is capable of almost 130mph. Also new to the range is the boldly-styled Multipla compact MPV, which makes use of a currently unique six-seat layout and is underpinned by the Bravo/Bravo hatchback chassis to ensure that it is good to drive. Both models have the ideal ingredients for sales success, but were not enough to prevent the Toyota Yaris from walking away with this year's honours at the European Car of the Year award ceremony.

France

Citroen has entered the compact MPV market with its most interesting new car launch for years - the Citroen Xsara Picasso. A far cry from the bland-looking hatchback upon which it is based, the Picasso takes on a one-cube car design that maximises on interior space within a compact bodyshell. It is powered by 1.6 and 1.8 petrol engines as well as a direct injection 2.0 diesel. The oil-burning unit is impressively refined and economical, but the petrol units are relatively weak.

Peugeot has finally pulled the plug on its unsuccessful, decade-old 605 executive saloon and replaced it with a much more stylish offering - the 607. Underneath, the 607 retains much of its predecessor's underpinnings, but in many other ways it is a step in the right direction for Peugeot in its long and so far unsuccessful quest to build an executive car which sells well outside its homeland. It feels far better built than the 605, as well as offering an even more comfortable interior and higher equipment levels.

Germany

BMW has called time on 840i production after 10 years, with no direct successor available in the form of a 2+2 luxury coupe. For now, buyers looking for an ultra-quick BMW sports car will have to "settle" for the Z8, which is a much finer machine than the 840i and features in this year's James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

Audi has had a relatively quiet year after four successive years of major car launches, with the only significant news this year being the addition of a five-door version to the A3 hatchback range.

ee also

*1998 in motoring - the previous year
*2000 in motoring - the next year