We’re just over a month into the new year, but there’s still time to make a New Year’s resolution − to buy one of these fantastic new cars coming to a dealership near you this year. And they all have the potential to change your life for the better.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Debuting at the Geneva motorshow next month, the Citroën C4 Cactus is intended not merely to be another competitor for the Volkswagen Golf’s crown, but a blueprint for a whole new approach to small cars. Thanks to its super-low weight of only 965kg, the Cactus will be about 60kg lighter than the equivalent Ford Fiesta and a whopping 200kgs lighter than the standard C4.
The big news here is that the Cactus’s clever engineering means it should have the style and practicality of Citroën’s existing C range, but with the economy of their B range. The Cactus really is a whole new kind of small car that means you’ll no longer have to choose between economy and comfort.
Expected Release: October 2014
Price: £13-18k
Engine: Options include a VTi 1.0, three-cylinder, turbo petrol motor delivering 81bhp, e-THP delivering 108bhp, an eHDI giving 91bhp and a BlueHDI producing 99bhp
Dimensions: 4.21m long, 1.75m wide and 1.53m in height
Audi A3 e-tron Sportback 2014
Audi have been relatively slow off the mark when it comes to electric and hybrid cars, but that’s all about to change with the release of the e-tron hybrid version of the A3 Sportback.
Unlike some of their rivals, Audi has gone for an understated approach to electrification, with the e-tron being virtually indistinguishable from its parent model.
This is great news for fans of that classic Audi style who also want to save money and the environment without looking like they’re driving something from a bad sci-fi film. And it’s also great news for the eco-conscious that yet another big manufacturer has gotten firmly on-board the hybrid (drive)train.
Expected Release: Late 2014
Price: £30,000
Engine: 1.4 litre 4 cylinder turbo delivering 148bhp combined with a 101bhp electric motor capable of producing a combined total of 201bhp
Top speed: 138mph
Acceleration: 0-62.1mph in 7.6 seconds
Electric range: 31 miles
Hybrid range: 550 miles
CO2 Emissions: 35g/km
Efficiency: 180mpg
BMW i8
The next step in BMW’s i range, the i8 is intended as the bigger, badder, plug-in hybrid alternative to the dinky all-electric i3. Taking advantage of super-lightweight construction and a drag coefficient of just 0.26, the i8 is as efficient as it is beautiful to look at.
It might not be cheap, but the BMW i8 is set to bring a whole new level of style and sophistication to the hybrid car world, giving us an environmentally friendly car that’s so sleek and sexy, its eco-credentials shouldn’t even be its main selling point.
Expected Release: Mid 2014
Price: £86,800
Engine: 1.5 litre turbocharged i3 petrol engine and a 98kw electric motor
Acceleration: 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds
Top speed: 75mph in all-electric mode, 155mph (electronically-limited) in hybrid mode
Electric range: 22 miles
Hybrid range: 310-370 miles depending on driving option
Dimensions: 4.7m long by 1.94m wide by 1.3m tall
Volkwagen e-Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is one of the longest-lasting and best-selling brands in the world, so when an all-electric version is about to go on sale, it’s definitely worth sitting up and paying attention. Based on the seventh-generation Golf, Volkswagen is hoping to capitalise on that model’s reputation for practicality and ease of use to produce an all-electric vehicle that fits seamlessly into our everyday lives.
Perhaps most significantly, though, is Volkwagen’s boast that the e-Golf will achieve a staggering 118 miles range on a single charge. This is, apparently, twice the average daily commute, making the e-Golf a truly practical option, rather than an occasionally inconvenient lifestyle choice.
Expected Release: Early 2014
Price: TBA (but possibly around £35k)
Engine: 115hp, 200ft-lb torque electric motor
Acceleration: 0-62.1mph in 10.4 seconds
Top Speed: 86mph
Electric Range: 118 miles
If you’re on the lookout for a car than could change your life in 2014, but aren’t quite sure how you can find the money for it, don’t despair! The Car Loan Warehouse can help you find the money you need at a rate you can afford. It’s car finance without the hassle.
