Car and Van News

What is it: Five-door version of Audi’s best-selling hatch

Key features: Lighter, larger space, more efficient

Centrepiece of the Lexus stand at Geneva is the new IS, the Japanese brand’s direct rival to the BMW 3 Series.

Yet seemingly remarkably in the fleet-heavy sector both cars compete in, the new IS range will not include a diesel model.

Dacia has unveiled the fourth model in its new European line-up in Geneva, the Logan MCV.

The car is an estate sister to the recently-launched Sandero, and is expected in the UK in July at prices that could start from under £8,000.

Vauxhall has unveiled its Cascada cabriolet and new versions of the ADAM small car at Geneva, as the brand’s UK boss warns of potential price rises in showrooms.

According to Vauxhall chairman Duncan Aldred the sudden drop in the value of the pound is causing headaches for UK carmakers and importers, squeezing the margins they can make on selling new cars.

Peugeot is on track to claim 50 per cent of its sales from outside Europe by 2015.

The 208 and 301 are doing particularly well globally, according to director general of Automobiles Peugeot Maxine Picat.

Ford’s all-new Mondeo is on display in the Geneva show halls, but it will be at least 18 months before it reaches showrooms.

According to Ford bosses the delay, putting the car’s launch back by around a year, has been caused by the need to sort out Ford’s loss-making European operation.

McLaren’s P1 is likely to be the first car many visitors to the Geneva show look for.

The significantly more powerful sister to the MP4-12C is seen as the core rival to Ferrari’s Enzo-successor the F150, also debuting at Geneva.