Peugeot’s everyman car is really a hugely competent performer, as well as in common with the 206 will come in a wide variety of body and power train formats.

The beautifully-proportioned 307CC, using its folding power roof and four seats, is really a hugely appealing car for those who desire a roadster but additionally need some practicality; celebrate a lot of sense for young urbanites, and it is satisfying they are driving.

The new 136PS HDi turbo-diesel is really a brilliantly sharp performer within the 307 HDi hatchback. When placed to the SW crossover vehicle this engine constitutes a superbly rounded choice for the single car family with adults who have not yet had their sense of fun and adventure removed by surgery.

Despite wear and tear (it has been around since 1998) Peugeot’s smallest car still holds considerable attract buyers; low insurance provides it with appeal to young drivers, and low running costs and simple manoeuvrability opens up the mature market.

Low-specification models often pitch and roll a tad too much for comfort when pressed hard, however the bigger-engined variants have uprated suspension which tightens cornering behaviour up nicely.

The variants – three and five door hatches, the 206 GTI hot-shot, a hot diesel, the SW mini-mufti purpose vehicle, and also the pretty and appealing 206CC coupe-cabriolet with power roof – make sure that there is something for everyone.

New for 2004, the 407 includes a distinctive nose and grille that provides an instant recognition factor – expect more of the kind of brand identity within the years to come.

Underneath the skin of the bold strike against Euro-bland styling lies a package of hardware and soft parts that move the overall game on, too; the engines are lively and enjoyable, the chassis sharp like a new scalpel (if your little vulnerable to transmitting pothole bumps to the cabin on rough surfaces) and also the cabin appointments extremely pleasing to determine and use.

The SW variant needs to be designated for praise, being halfway from a hatchback and an estate car, but sufficiently well-executed to fulfill both market sectors.

In France auto industry has traditionally been considered quirky and xenophobic, producing cars having a distinctly Gallic flavour intended essentially for home sale. If anybody else should occur to like them, then fine.

The exception for this rule is Peugeot, with a far more open and cosmopolitan view of how its product family should be perceived: instead of building French cars it builds overtly European models which have a broad appeal Newest member of the mainstream folks are the excellent 407, which is available in both sedan and SW (an acronym that might or may not mean sport wagon) but additionally new may be the 1007, first inside a projected type of ‘double-0’ niche market cars which fall away from mainstream product line-up.

This transfer to niche products is anticipated to yield a coupe version of the 407 – the 406 Coupe apparently surprised even Peugeot by its breadth of appeal – and perhaps a multi-purpose/sports utility crossover depending on that same floor pan.

Perodua’s reaction to demand for a micro-sized multi-purpose vehicle, the slab-ended Kenari has a choice of just one engine, a zippy little one litre four cylinder unit that is fine once the car is unladen, but which struggles when all seats are filled with people.

Looking as if it was created by somebody skilled in origami and possessing a supply of empty cereal boxes, the benefit of the four-square cabin is the fact that there is lots of head room. Handling is geared more to softness than precision, and power more to economy than performance.

The tiny car does, however, make a good fist of competing from the Agila, Wagon R and other competitors.

Using its 1300cc engine and permanent four wheel drive, this pocket-sized multi-purpose vehicle is only the ticket for driving along dirt tracks within the far east.

Geared in the same market sector as Daihatsu’s Terios (that it is derived) the vehicle is surprisingly capable at running on rough surfaces – it’s a pity that it is on-road performance isn’t as much as the same standard.

The short wheelbase, narrow cabin and light weight conspire to make the vehicle twitchy when cornering and vulnerable to wandering when being pressed into highway use. Most buyers are pleased to accept this like a trade-off for its freedom and cheeky appearance.

It is not easy to get thrilled about a car by having an entry-level engine pumping out 31 PS – so much in fact that not even its makers may become enthusiastic about it. Kancil is really a five door city car tailored for providing the drivers of Kl with fundamental transport.

For the reason that sense it really works. Don’t expect anything when it comes to driving dynamics; this can be a simple, functional little machine which will hold four people along with a bag of shopping in the supermarket.

For the power-crazed there’s a 50PS variant offered – using its three speed automatic transmission this can reach a high speed of 120kph, dealing with a hundred clicks from standstill in only under two days. Possibly the greatest virtues of the car are that it’s cheap to purchase, and can be parked easily.

Perodua’s first real attempt for building a car that has any sense of driver involvement is moderately successful. A concise city car (which looks big when parked alongside the Kancil but actually isn’t much different in size to some Ford Ka) the Kelisa is really a five door hatchback offered having a choice of the 850cc economy engine or perhaps a more powerful and free-revving 1.0 litre four.

Acceleration are few things to write home about, however the handling is refreshingly great for a brand not noted because of its ability to provide drivers with sense at all of enjoyment.

Kelisa has been used to roll the brand to untouched markets, and a low cost point can help it obtain a foothold.

The small player in the car market is gradually extending its tentacles. Founded in 1993 as a joint venture with Daihatsu (which is why Peroduas look just like Daihatsu) the Malaysian company is supposed to complement, instead of compete with, the other Malaysia marque Proton.

Operating from the single site which houses everything related to creating and building the cars, Perodua originated as a means of having around the punitive import tax regime that was harming Daihatsus tries to gain admission to Malaysia, and at the same time frame a means of providing exports to assist further raise the rapidly-growing Malaysian economy.

It’s unlikely how the brand will build up a real character of their own; most method is derived from Daihatsu models, that is beneficial to both organizations.

Have a 7.3 litre engine from Mercedes-Benz’s AMG tuning house and attach it to some sophisticated six-speed mid-mount transaxle, wrap it in a Italian-designed body shell and finished it to some high standard, and also you end up with an uncommon and sought-after Ferrari rival.

Italy includes a reputation for building interesting machines, and also the Zonda (which is offered in both coupe and roadster forms) isn’t any exception.

Performance and handling are stunning – that AMG engine pumps out 555PS – and also the car is jaw-droppingly exciting to check out into the bargain. Again, just the super-rich need apply buy one.

Horatio Pagani has spent all his working life on the planet of fast cart: early F3 race car successes in Argentina lad to his summary of that racing legend Jean Manuel Fangio, who opened doors for the young designer in Italy. Joining Lamborghini Pagani became active in the creation of such cars since the Countach.

He struck on his own in early 1990s to begin a carbon fibre prototyping business, which resulted in the car shown here: this can be a project which took tan years to obtain from idea to reality, which is hoped it won’t be the only model to deal with the name of this talented engineer.

Unlike these products of many specialist manufacturers, the Zonda is here on the scene following a wealth of testing, and provides the impression to be fully formed These problems are vital once the asking price for any new Zonda is taken into consideration, and when you’re competing against established brands for example Lamborghini and Ferrari.

The Noble M12 GTC is really a classically-proportioned mid-engined machine having a targa-style lift-out roof section making make use of a specially-developed single-turbo power unit depending on Ford’s esteemed Duratec V6 – the ability output of 290PS is adequate to sprint the compact machine to 10Okph in under five seconds, as well as on to a top speed of 255kph.

Handling is flawless, the steering precise, and quality is a greater than many would expect. Noble’s ambition would be to provide open top motoring providing you with similar sensations to those felt by Porsche roadster buyers.