Demand for the new Peugeot RCZ Sports Coupé has really taken off with orders for the first five weeks already exceeding over half the 2010 production allocation. Many orders include personalisation options that are a key part of the RCZ specification and available to configure online at www.peugeot.co.uk or on the iPhone app. The range availability is also expanding with more petrol-powered versions: a THP 156 automatic and the more powerful THP 200 models, in both Sport and GT trim levels, can now be ordered for delivery.

The hotly anticipated THP 200 version, fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, combines performance, efficiency and a desirable, stylish appearance characterised by its distinctive double-bubble roof. The front suspension has larger brakes and hubs with a strengthened lower bracing bar to enhance the handling and sure-footed ride. THP 200 models are also equipped with the Sports Kit as standard, that includes a small diameter steering wheel and a short, quick-throw gear lever.

The RCZ is a fantastic looking car in the metal and I can safely say that whilst it may perhaps not quite live up to the visuals in terms of performance, it is still an excellent drive and will turn a lot of heads every time you drive out in it.

There are some wild rumours about the Range Rover Evoque – some true and others less so. What is true is that the 4×4 has entered its final phase of testing, with hundreds of prototype models dispatched around the globe for trial in the toughest climates and conditions.

The testing programme involves covering millions of miles in extreme endurance conditions to ensure that the Evoque will live up to the tough reputation of the brand.

Teams of engineers will travel to 20 countries to pit the Range Rover Evoque against the most extreme conditions on earth, ranging from the Arctic to the desert, from German Autobahns to Tokyo city traffic. Alongside the engineers, Land Rover is working with 120 unique component suppliers and carrying out in excess of 17,000 individual tests to examine every separate part and system.

Like all Range Rovers, the new Evoque will have been proven against all the elements when it goes on sale next summer.

“The development stage is crucial in the year leading up to launching the car,” said Murray Dietsch, director of Land Rover programmes. “No stone is left unturned; we have a team of experienced and skilled engineers who will work to a tight schedule to ensure we have a top quality vehicle to offer our customers.”

The new Range Rover Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient model the company has ever offered, and will be sold in 160 markets around the world.

The Infiniti M37, which is the first of three M Line saloons, will be priced from £35,150 and is now available to order. There’s a diesel, a GT and a Premium version of this car, each of which feature different specifications.

With a design inspired by the Essence concept car of 2009, this all-new model developed for European roads is available now from the UK’s inaugural Infiniti Centre in Reading, Berkshire. However, buyers the length and breadth of Britain who are ready for an alternative to the familiar faces of the sports saloon class can explore every facet of the M37’s design, spec and equipment, from first brush-stroke to last trim detail, online at www.infiniti.eu. Here, they can configure their ideal M37 and watch it in motion driving through a variety of sci-fi inspired landscapes.

Powered by Infiniti’s 3.7-litre petrol V6 developing 316 bhp (320 PS), the M37 backs up its athletic looks with a strong driver focus and Infiniti’s biggest and best-appointed interior yet.

The M37 is also Infiniti’s most technologically advanced car with a comprehensive suite of electronic driver aids/anti-collision systems, collectively badged Dynamic Safety Shield. For the Premium models expected to be the biggest sellers, the standard Safety Shield includes the world-first Blind Spot Intervention™, a system which registers nearby vehicles and helps ensure the Infiniti cannot stray into their path.

Other debut technologies available include Active Noise Control and Forest Air™, a climate control system that recreates the gentle breezes and subtle scents of an environment known to promote alertness and relieve stress.

This is very much the upmarket real deal and the M37 should offer something for everyone, from those seeking outright performance from the cracking engine to those who want the refinement and luxury that is on offer.

Here, Auto Express looks at the new Fabia vRS, and sees how it compares to the genuine rally car as used by Skoda. The new vRS looks very well put together and has a decent level of performance. The turbo and superchargers that are fitted means plenty of power for this little pocket rocket. A very good car indeed.

The new 2010 Vauxhall Meriva has a range of four diesels, including the:

• 95PS 1.3 CDTi engine, which will power all Meriva ecoFLEX models
• 1.7 CDTi (130PS) with 300Nm of torque
• 1.3 CDTi (75PS)
• 1.7 CDTi (100PS)

On the 1.7 CDTi models, a choice of manual or automatic transmissions is available. All Vauxhall Merivas feature unique rear-hinged back doors (FlexDoors), FlexSpace seating and FlexRail storage systems. My money is on the ‘performance’ version as it still returns over 50mpg and that slug of torque will be really useful when overtaking.

The Hyundai i20 has been improved for 2010, with minor changes to the aerodynamics and engine that have resulted in a boost in fuel efficiency for all engines. Each engine, including the diesel, now has a greater mpg rating (the 1.4 petrol gaining a 4.3mpg improvement and two tax bands lower) and the 1.2 model now falls into the £30 per annum tax band.

The interior is now more stylish and better equipped too, with the dashboard illumination now a shade of blue rather than red and Bluetooth phone connectivity with voice recognition is as standard on all models except the entry-level Classic.

The i20 is a great little car in it’s own right and is now even better thanks to these improvements.

The new i20 is available to order now, with prices starting at £9,520. All i20s are covered by a manufacturer-backed, unlimited mileage Five Year Warranty and are equipped with ESP and air conditioning as standard.

In this video, you’ll see the new (and critically acclaimed) Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG tackle the hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010. Worth watching? Oh yes. This is an extremely special car and the noise it makes is simply staggering! It’s a real shame I couldn’t make it to the festival of speed this year, but hopefully I will do in 2011!

Chevrolet Camaro

Here’s something for the weekend! The UK lineup of vehicles from Chevy was certainly in dire need of a sports model and their superb Camaro more than fits the bill. In fact, I’m positively desperate to get behind the wheel of this thing!

Building on Chevrolet’s iconic US Heritage, the retro-styled Camaro has been on sale in the USA since 2009, and has already seen sales in excess of 200,000 as American retailers cleared their waiting lists. Very soon, those waiting to get their hands on an official Camaro in the UK will have reason to celebrate – the car will go on sale as an official Chevrolet, complete with full manufacturer warranty, during the first half of 2011.

The Camaro is a four seater car with a massive, monster engine that’s a 6.2-litre 426bhp powerplant. Prices? Not announced yet, but it’s unlikely to be that cheap. However, I am sure it’ll be more than worth the wait. I’d better start saving my pennies for this amazing muscle car. Look out for more updates on the Camaro here at Car Articles.

SEAT Leon Cupra R

Now at showrooms, this is the new 2010 SEAT Leon Cupra R. It is actually the fastest SEAT ever built in the 25 year history of the brand and certainly looks like it has been designed with performance in mind.

That 265 PS power peak is the product of a tuned2.0-litre, four cylinder turbocharged petrol engine – revised by the engineers at SEAT’s state-of-the-art Technical Centre in Martorell to make it more potent, even, than the current Leon Cupra which is good for a still impressive 240 PS from its 2.0-litre powerplant.

The 16V petrol engine features a new, high-pressure fuel pump injector to satisfy the greater performance demands and allow it to meet strict EU5 emissions standards while revisions to the electronic engine management system, plus increased maximum turbo pressure (1.9 bar at max output and 2.2 bar at max torque, versus 1.8 bar for the 240 PS 2.0-litre TSI in Leon Cupra) complete the powerplant changes beneath the SEAT’s svelte ‘clamshell’ bonnet.

The torque generated by the new Cupra R’s refined and willing engine is, arguably, even more impressive than its power peak. No less than 350 Nm is on offer at just 2,500 rpm – that’s a full 50 Nm more than the already muscular Leon Cupra.

XDS – SEAT’s clever electronic system which uses enhanced ABS functionality to mimic the operation of a traditional limited slip differential – ESP stability control, TCS traction control and EBA emergency braking assistance are among the new car’s standard-fit kit and work together to help keep things on the straight and narrow.

Of course, what does all this mean without giving you the figures? Well, the new SEAT should be good to cover the 0-62 sprint in 6.2 seconds and on to a limited 155 miles per hour. Quite impressive I’m sure you’ll agree.

As impressive, perhaps, is the new Leon’s frugality. Combined economy of 34.9 mpg and CO2 limited to just 190 g/km make the newcomer among the ‘greenest’ ultra-hot hatches around. Not green enough to qualify for the brand’s Ecomotive badge, of course, but markedly more environmentally responsible than a number of rivals which have CO2 emissions of 220 g/km and above.

Personally, I think this just shows how far we’ve come in terms of mating performance with economy and perhaps more importantly low emissions. For a car of this type, 190g/km is very little indeed.

The new ebony black front seatbacks even give rear seat occupants a taste of the Cupra R cabin upgrade, while the prominent ‘R’ logo incorporated on the seatbacks leaves no one in any doubt about the identity of this super-quick SEAT. The car also features 19 inch wheels that really set the car off.

UK pricing for the new Leon Cupra R is confirmed at £25,205, production is limited to around 500 in a full year, and the first customer cars are due to be delivered within weeks.

New VW Jetta

Here’s the latest from Volkswagen regarding the new Jetta, which will be on sale in the UK in 2010:

The new Jetta has been unveiled at Times Square in New York, featuring a sharp new look, greater space and the most advanced range of petrol and diesel engines yet.

Drawing inspiration from the popular NCC (New Compact Coupé) concept car which made its debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January, the new Jetta was styled under the leadership of Klaus Bischoff, head of design for the Volkswagen brand. Every panel is new with precise, clean lines lending the Jetta an elegant appearance that marks the latest evolution of the new Volkswagen design language.

The fresh styling and acute attention to detail continues inside the Jetta. An all-new dashboard featuring subtle aluminium highlights sits ahead of a leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel. Every Jetta will feature an integrated multifunction display, air conditioning and a CD stereo system. Available as an option will be touchscreen satellite navigation.

As with the outgoing Jetta, the new car mixes the practicality of being able to seat five adults with a large, 510 litre loadspace and a comprehensive range of standard safety features including six airbags,ABS and Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP).

The overall length of the Jetta has grown by 90 mm to measure 4,644 mm. In addition, the wheelbase has also been extended to 2,648 mm, an increase of 70 mm, resulting in 67 mm greater legroom for rear seat passengers.

Powering the new Jetta is a range of advanced petrol and diesel forced induction engines. New to the Jetta is the 1.2-litre TSI engine producing 105 PS while the twincharged 1.4-litre TSI 160 PS engine mixing performance and economy is added to the range. The 1.4-litre TSI 122 PS and 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS continue unchanged. Diesel options consist of a 1.6-litre TDI 105 PS and a 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS engine.

BlueMotion Technology modifications including Start/Stop and battery regeneration will be made available linked to the 1.2-litre TSI and the 1.6-litreTDI engines. The changes allow the 1.2-litre TSI version to achieve 53.2 mpg on the combined cycle while emitting 123 g/km of CO2. The 1.6-litre TDI variant is capable of returning 68 mpg and emits just 109 g/km of carbon dioxide.

The original Jetta was launched in Germany in 1979 with over 9.6 million vehicles sold with the nameplate since then.

Sustained popularity in the US market has led the Jetta to become the biggest selling German saloon car in North America where it accounts for 110,000 sales every year.

Sales of the new Jetta in the UK will commence in early 2011 with prices and specifications being announced nearer this time.