Best new cars for 2015

From supercars to superminis, we reveal some of the most exciting new cars for 2015

Don't go putting down that deposit on a showroom-fresh car yet, as a host of potential new class leaders will start to roll on to our roads as soon as the Christmas decorations come down.

We’ve looked into our crystal ball and picked the key cars coming in 2015. Our in-depth guide tells you everything you need to know about this sparkling new metal.

Once again, 2015 is set to be a big year for crossovers, with Honda reviving its HR-V badge for a new entry into that class, while the new Vauxhall Astra and Jaguar XE are big news for the British car industry. But whether you’re after a supermini, SUV or supercar, you’ve never had a better range of models to choose from

Ford S-MAX

Price: from £24,000 (est)
On sale: Summer 2015

October’s Paris Motor Show played host to countless new car launches, with Ford’s S-MAX one of the most significant. With a more upmarket design, the seven-seat MPV will build on the success of the old car, and prove that large, versatile MPVs needn’t be boring to drive.

It’s the same size as before, but boasts more practical features like power-folding second and third row seats, plus a hands-free tailgate. New self-parking tech also allows the car to reverse itself into perpendicular multi-storey bays, as well as parallel spaces.

Ford will offer a range of frugal 2.0-litre TDCi diesels, plus a pair of EcoBoost petrol engines. The pick of the line-up is likely to be the mid-range 148bhp diesel, which should offer a good balance of pace and running costs. There’ll also be a choice of manual and dual-clutch auto boxes, and the option of four-wheel drive for the first time.

Prices aren’t expected to rise significantly, so an entry-level petrol car could start at £24,000. An ultra-luxurious Vignale model is also expected, with high-quality leather seats as part of an upmarket interior.

Ferrari 458M

Price: £200,000 (est)
On sale: March 2015

Ferrari is set to launch a new car every year, and the 458 Italia replacement is first on the to do list. This could be badged 458M, and while we’ve only seen spy shots of prototypes on test, it’s set for major mechanical changes. Big news is the possibility of a new downsized 3.8-litre turbo V8 – first seen in the new California T – in place of the 4.5-litre naturally aspirated V8. This could offer 650bhp-plus, and cut the 0-62mph time from 3.4 seconds to around three seconds flat.

Honda Jazz

Price: £14,000 (est)
On sale: early 2015

The Jazz has a strong reputation to uphold, due to the impeccable reliability records of the first and second-generation models. Honda is looking to build on that for the Jazz Mk3 supermini with a new scalable platform – which also underpins the new HR-V – as well as a bolder design and added technology. Under the bonnet, the engine range is expected to be largely familiar, with efficient 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrols, as well as an upgraded version of the petrol-electric drivetrain for the Jazz Hybrid. Practicality looks set to remain a strong point, though, with a boot capacity of around 400 litres plus Honda’s Magic Seating, which allows owners to fold the rear seats easily, and even flip up the bases, cinema-style.

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Price: from £22,000 (est)
On sale: Late 2015

Alfa's rebirth, started by the 4C, will continue with the all-new Giulia. Penned as a rival for the BMW 3 Series and new Jaguar XE, the Italian saloon will be rear-wheel drive and potentially powered by a range of Fiat’s MultiAir engines. The wraps will come off next July before arriving in showrooms before the end of the year. Our image gives you some idea as to how the svelte saloon will look in hot QV guise, with strong lines and a distinctive grille. But don’t expect the design to be as lavish as Alfas of old.

Hyundai i20

Price: from £10,000 (est)
On sale: Early 2015

The new i20 offers a more swish design and class-leading cabin space. A new platform makes it 40mm longer and 26mm wider than before, which will no doubt pay dividends for practicality. Blacked-out C-pillars and an emphasis on horizontal lines help the car appear lower and meaner than the outgoing model, too, and as for tech, Hyundai’s thrown everything in, with a reversing camera and seven-inch touchscreen sat-nav.

Infiniti Q30

Price: from £20,000 (est)
On sale: Late 2015

Nissan’s luxury arm, Infiniti, is taking on other premium hatchbacks, such as the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and VW Golf, with the new Q30. Already revealed in concept form, it will be built in the UK at Nissan’s Sunderland plant. Under the skin, the Q30 will borrow technology from Mercedes – so as well as sitting on the MFA platform underpinning the A-Class, the car is expected to use Mercedes’ range of 2.0-litre diesel and petrol engines.

Jaguar XE

Price: from £26,995
On sale: May 2015

Jaguar’s been without a compact executive car since the X-Type was axed back in 2009. However, next year, the brand will remedy that with the introduction of the all-new Jaguar XE – designed to take the fight to the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class.

It’ll initially be made available with 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, as well as a range-topping supercharged 3.0 V6. The latter should satisfy performance fans, sprinting from 0-62mph in less than five seconds.

The XE is actually on sale now, starting at £26,995 for the 2.0-litre petrol – around £400 more than for the equivalent BMW 320i. The price differential rises if you opt for a diesel, with the XE costing around £1,000 more than the 320d.

Its aluminium body should help both fuel economy and handling, with Jaguar hoping its new car can trounce the competition both on twisty back roads as well as at the pumps. Theoretically, as much as 75mpg will be possible from the basic diesel engine, thanks to low levels of internal friction and plenty of power from low revs.

Audi R8

Price: £100,000 (est)
On sale: mid 2015

We thought we’d be lucky enough to see a new Audi R8 this year, but in an attempt to draw out the current car’s lifespan, the brand revealed a final-run R8 Competition instead.

Destined only for the US, the lightweight road car boasted an extra 20bhp over the range-topping V10 Plus, as well as carbon ceramic brakes and a seven-speed S tronic gearbox. However, this should signal the end of the first-generation R8’s reign, with a new model – hinted at by our exclusive image – destined for March’s Geneva Motor Show.

It’s set to be the most advanced Audi yet, with the brand making use of weight-saving techniques learned from its R8 LMS race car, while also sharing a mid-engine platform with the rapid Lamborghini Huracán.
We’re still unsure what engines the new R8 will use, although it’s likely to come fitted with a revised version of the current V10.

There’s a chance Audi may consider turbocharging in an attempt to meet ever-increasing emissions targets, as well as the possibility of a plug-in hybrid to rival the BMW i8

Kia Sorento

Price: from £27,000 (est)
On sale: early 2015

Kia’s new SUV has benefited from the expertise of design boss Peter Schreyer, and it looks good. It’s still a seven-seat 4x4, it still offers stacks of equipment and a 2.2-litre turbodiesel is the only engine option. What’s fresh is the focus on refinement, with the new Sorento reportedly 29 per cent better soundproofed than before, and tuned to deliver less steering kickback. The car will have to be very good to beat our current favourite large SUV – Kia sister brand Hyundai’s Santa Fe – but with this sophisticated new design, the future’s looking bright.

source : autoexpress