Citroën C4

Unveiled at Paris yesterday, the C4 appears to strike a great balance between risk-free design and moving the game on just enough to attract buyers bored with the predictability of the Focus, Golf and Astra rivals.

The two variants - a coupe-like 3 door or a more orthodox 5 door - share a modern vitality in their design with a freshness in the graphics and detailing. Examples include the three-tier front grille treatment with the licence plate down in the chin spoiler; the taillamp graphics; the side protector at the base of the doors or the inset rear tailgate surface on the 5 door.

The interior's most notable feature is undoubtedly its fixed centred steering wheel boss and the C4 is the first production car to feature this. The advantages (apart from showroom appeal) include a simpler IP control interface and improved ergonomics. NH

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Mercedes Compact Sports Tourer Vision B

Mercedes-Benz refer to this car as a 'Compact Sports Tourer' as it shares much of the thinking of the 'Grand Sports Tourer' (GST) concept showing in its third iteration at Paris. The car previews closely a production Mercedes due next year that will compete at the sporty end of the European Mini MPV market with cars such as the Seat Altea - at 4.27m long it is Mini MPV sized and nearly 50cm longer than the A-class whose sandwich floor platform it is based on.

Just as the Vision A of 1993 was the prelude to a completely new type of car for Mercedes Benz in the A-class of 1997, so the Vision B preludes another new type of car for this famous brand; the Mercedes B-class; Europe’s first Premium Mini MPV. SL

Full Design Review coming soon...

Ferrari F430

The 430 is to the 360 it replaces what the 355 was to the 348. Like the 355 the 430 inherits most its predecessor’s architecture but adopts new design themes and a substantially more powerful engine. In a riposte to the Lamborghini Gallardo’s 492bhp and the Ford GT’s 550bhp, the new Ferrari has an all new V8 engine that produces 483bhp, up 20% from the 360, which combined with the car’s light weight affords a greater power to weight ratio than any of its competitors.

The F430 is significant also as the first Ferrari to emerge under the design stewardship of Frank Stephenson (although the car was designed by Pininfarina). Subtle references to past Ferraris are notably evident, a logical approach given the richness of the brand’s back catalogue, but the car also features an excessive amont of branding; witness the large '430' embossed on the door mirror and centre console. SL

Full Design Review coming soon...

Ford Focus

The Focus is one of the most significant new cars at Paris - a completely new car that replaces the ground breaking 'edge design' Focus of 1998 which is one of Europe’s best selling cars.

The three and five door hatchbacks share the same profile (unlike the new C4 and Astra), and all of the variants, including the estate and coupe/cabrio, share the same wheelbase and platform as the C-Max, Mazda 3 and Volvo S40. The coupe cabrio variant was shown in its concept car preview form bearing the moniker Vignale.

The new Focus's exterior takes some of the core themes from its predecessor and several elements from the Mondeo and C-max to produce a well resolved, sober design that is clearly a modern Ford. The interior is similarly reserved but harmonious and features high quality materials. SL

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Nissan Tone concept

The Tone is a world debut from Nissan's main studio in Japan for a possible Almera replacement for Europe and is notable for pulling together several distinctive Nissan themes into a finely resolved overall design that looks very close to production.

The front face combines elements of the Micra with the four-slot grille of the Murano, while the spear ends of the shoulder surface are a softer version of the treatment seen on the Primera. At the rear, the boomerang LED taillamps echo those of the Qashqai concept from Geneva earlier this year, as do the kicked up rear side windows. The interior features perforated 'metallic' look silvery purple leather combined with extensive use of brushed aluminium details. NH

Full Design Review coming soon...

Honda FR-V

Honda's FR-V is a less excessive reinterpretation of the Fiat Multipla 3+3 concept with less wacky styling and superior levels of quality. It's a most appealing seating layout, which allows 6 people to sit within comfortable earshot of each other without recourse to struggling into a cramped 3rd row in the rear or compromising trunk space. The front centre seat can also slide back through 270mm allowing the centre passenger to sit in the very centre of the car in a genuine 5-seat 'X' formation if desired.

With a choice of 1.7litre and 2.0litre i-VTEC petrol engines or Honda's superb 2.2 i-CTDi diesel engine the FRV should become the premium compact MPV of choice for many families.

Dimensions: length 4285mm, width 1810mm, height 1610mm, wheelbase 2680mm. NH

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