Wheels and deals

The firm is offering more choice, more equipment options and a wealth of advanced features for on-board comfort, communications, safety and style as it launches the Yaris into an increasingly competitive market sector.

Established Active and Icon grades are joined by new Sport and Excel trims. The Hybrid variant can be specified in Icon and Excel versions.

Each grade has its own character, differentiated by details such as the interior trim and materials and treatment of various interior and exterior elements, including the lower grille, wheels, seats, centre console and instrument panel.

High equipment levels feature throughout the range, with a leather-trimmed steering wheel, air conditioning and the latest Toyota Touch 2 multimedia system fitted as standard from Icon grade. Climate control is standard for all Hybrid and Excel variants.

Cost options include Toyota’s Skyview panoramic roof, LED daytime running lights and rear lamps, rear privacy glass and a multimedia system with navigation. Sport models can further be specified with red interior trim.

On-the-road prices start at £10,995 for the 1.0-litre three-door Active model and rise to £17,695 for the range-topping Hybrid model in Excel trim.

Volkswagen’s new Golf SV has received the top safety award of five stars from the independent Euro NCAP organisation.

With its top-class package of safety features made up of robust vehicle body structure, highly effective combination of seat belts, seats and airbags, plus innovative driver assistance systems, the Golf SV has been judged as one of the world’s safest cars.

The overall safety rating of five stars for the Golf SV is made up from the results in four categories: occupant protection for adults and children, pedestrian protection and safety assistance.

In addition, Volkswagen offers a number of optional driver assistance systems, including adaptive distance monitoring, an emergency braking system for urban environments and an intelligent headlight system.

The comprehensive technology package is rounded off by the firm’s Blind Spot Sensor with Rear Traffic Alert, which warns drivers of any vehicles in their blind spot and of any road users approaching from the side when they’re reversing out of a parking space.

Vauxhall is celebrating 10 years of its VXR performance brand in style, with the launch of a new version of its popular VXR8 model.

The GTS variant joins an illustrious line of hot Vauxhalls from the last decade that saw the memorable VXR220 roadster and Aussie bruiser the Monaro VXR hit the showrooms back in 2004.

There are currently five cars in Vauxhall’s VXR range: the Corsa VXR, the 210 horsepower Corsa VXR ClubSport, the 280 horsepower Astra VXR, the 325 horsepower Insignia VXR and the aforementioned 576 horsepower VXR8 GTS.

This year also marks the anniversaries of two iconic performance Vauxhalls that never wore the VXR badge.

Launched in 1989, both the Calibra and Lotus Carlton are now celebrating their first quarter-century.

The Calibra was the most aerodynamic car in its class, which when combined with up to 200bhp and all-wheel drive in later models, made it a credible rival for cars like the Sierra Cosworth and Lancia Delta Integrale. The Calibra was produced until 1996, by which time over 40,000 had found homes in the UK.

With 377 horsepower from its twin-turbcharged, straight-six engine, Vauxhall’s Lotus Carlton super-saloon could crack 176mph and accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. And with a chassis developed with Lotus Engineering, the car was equally at home on fast British A-roads or belting along de-restricted Autobahns.