Here’s a new competition that you’ll want to take a look at if you have what it takes to be a car reviewer and you fancy being sat behind the wheel of the Citroën DS5:

If you’ve watched the Top Gear presenters and thought you could do better; if you’ve always wanted to test drive a new car in an exotic location; if a cold January has you craving a luxury weekend in the South of France, then Citroën has the competition for you.

Yesterday, Citroën launched a new Facebook competition to reward five winners and a guest with a five-star weekend trip to St. Tropez in the south of France and the chance to be among one of the first to get behind the wheel of New Citroën DS5.

The five winners and their guests will enjoy a luxury weekend in the Riviera destination including flights and five-star hotel accommodation. The weekend will follow the theme of ‘The Refined, Redefined’ – New DS5’s promotional strapline – with the winners taking part in fun and distinctive experiences. The winners will also be filmed at various stages throughout the weekend so they can present their own video reviews of the car.

To enter the competition, users should visit the ‘DS5 Star Experience’ tab on Citroën UK’s official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/citroenuk) and write 50-100 words on why they deserve to be one of the first to drive the brand new Citroën DS5.

The competition closes on 31 January at 6pm and the five successful candidates will then be selected. The winners and their guests will fly out on Friday 10 February, returning on Sunday 12 February.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/citroenuk or http://www.ds5starexperience.info/.

In a resumption of a dormant series, here’s the return of the ‘Something For The Weekend’ feature – the first for 2012. This car is the ‘ultimate Corvette’ – the ZR1.

In time honoured tradition, the ZR1 is a reasonably light supercar with a big block (supercharged) V8 engine producing 638 horsepower! Top speed listed at 205 miles per hour and a 0-60 sprint is reached in a staggering 3.4 seconds. Naturally it has huge tyres for grip and brakes to provide the stopping power.

The ZR1 has joined other Chevy cars and become a bit of a racing star in it’s own right – this will no doubt reassure owners of the performance ability of the car. Thankfully the interior is also an improvement over many previous iterations.

Rear wheel drive and huge amounts of power should equal huge fun and the ZR1 will not disappoint. This is why it is this month’s highlight car!

This is the new Citroën DS3 Ultra Prestige Edition. Not content with the standard car, Citroen has added even more luxury into the mix. There is more extravagant leather and a watchstrap design upholstery. The front seats also feature a ‘crescendo’ colour effect which apparently has never been produced on in a vehicle before. What this means in reality is that the colour of the seats start as white at the top and graduate to a black on the base.

Two striking body colours are available – Polar White and Thorium Grey – and both feature a sports spoiler, dark-tinted side and rear windows and 17” charcoal-grey alloy wheels. The standard DS3 spec already includes automatic digital air conditioning and a Bluetooth® enabled Hi-Fi system, whilst the DS3 Ultra Prestige gains Citroën’s integrated MyWay colour satellite navigation system, rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers, electrically heated and folding door mirrors and an electrochrome rear view mirror.

Powered by a punchy THP 155 petrol engine or a fuel and CO2 efficient e-HDi 110 diesel with Stop & Start, prices start from £20,700.

Finally, it is the information we’ve all been waiting for. Just what is the rocket powered Nissan Juke-R capable of? Fitted with the engine from the Nissan GT-R supercar, the Juke-R has been completely reworked from the ground up to provide exceptional performance and handling whilst retaining the unique looks of the base car.

Nissan has shown during testing that the Juke-R’s 485bhp 3.8-litre V6 twin turbo engine propels the car from a standing start to 62mph (100kph) in just 3.7 seconds, before continuing on to a top speed of 160mph (257kph). This is eye watering performance for something that started off life as a fresh and funky small family car.

I will remind you all at this point that Juke-R the is only a technical study at this stage, and just two working examples will be built (in left and right hand drive respectively). This though speaks volumes. I’m guessing if the public at large show a demand, the car will no doubt be built. I wonder if the price tag will be as hair raising as the performance…

It’s a MINI New Year quiz – so it’s only got one question! When Prime Minister David Cameron drove the two millionth MINI off of the production line at Plant Oxford in August last year, how far would all of those cars stretch if placed bumper to bumper?

That production landmark was just one of a host of achievements during 2011, the most significant of which was that MINI recorded its highest ever UK sales since launch in 2001 and captured a record 2.58 per cent of the market, with sales of 50,135 vehicles, an increase of more than 14 per cent compared to 2010.

April saw the launch of the Cooper SD, the most powerful diesel MINI ever. Available in all body types, the 2.0-litre 143hp four-cylinder engine delivers more power, better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.

Soon after came the all-new MINI Coupé, the first two-seater sports car in the brand’s history. Bringing the fun and personality of MINI to a new sector, it offers a dynamic performance that owners are already growing to love.

And in October came first details of the sixth unique MINI model; the Roadster. The taut-handling Roadster is packed with MINI character and will offer open-topped thrills to a new type of customer when it goes on sale in the spring.

The MINI Inspired by Goodwood limited edition made its European debut at the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed in June. A unique collaboration between Rolls-Royce and MINI, it blends the best elements of both brands. Just 1,000 examples are being built, priced at £41,000, and the first will be delivered in March.

Last year saw MINI hint at a possible solution to the challenges of urban mobility, unveiling its innovative 3+1 seater Rocketman Concept at March’s Geneva Motor Show.

The pioneering MINI E UK Field Trial came to an end in 2011. Scores of private, corporate and public sector drivers gave feedback on living with a full electric MINI Hatch. Together they covered more than 250,000 miles, at an average charge cost of under 2p for each one.

Also looking to the future was the MINI production triangle, where it was announced at Downing Street that £500 million of new investment is to be spent over the next two years. Plant upgrades to build the next generation of cars will safeguard more than 5,000 UK jobs.

SEAT is starting 2012 as it means to go on: with a range of exceptional new offers that makes its stylish, sporty new models genuinely irresistible this January.

A comprehensive array of attractive deals extends across the entire SEAT range with, as always, the Spanish brand’s Ibiza supermini series and svelte Leon hatchback line-up leading the way.

A generous discount of £2,310 off the RRP of the best-selling Ibiza SC 1.4 16V SE Copa, for instance, brings its asking price down to just £9,995, while similar discounts off the corresponding Ibiza 5dr and Ibiza ST models see their prices slashed to just £10,495 and £11,205 respectively.

The now-familiar SE Copa trim level brings luxurious levels of standard equipment to all three Ibiza bodystyles – sporty 3dr SC, practical 5dr and capacious ST.

It builds on the already generous S Copa spec by adding the following:

• 16” ‘Fabula’ alloy wheels (1.4 only)
• Climate control, including refrigerated glovebox
• Rain and light sensors for automatic wipers and lights
• Dark tinted rear windows
• Leather steering wheel and gearknob
• Auto-dimming rear view mirror

These features come in addition to the Ibiza S Copa’s medley of equipment which features the likes of cruise control, four-speaker MP3 compatible radio/CD with AUX-in and steering column-mounted controls, alarm, immobiliser and electric windows all round.

The offer price means, for instance, that the Ibiza SC 1.4 SE Copa is now available for just £199 per month as part of a 42-month Solutions Personal Contract Plan agreement (deposit of £199, terms and conditions apply, 8.9% APR representative).

Move up the SEAT range to the sleek Leon five-door family hatch line-up and the new year deals are just as compelling. Savings of up to £3,085 are available on the Leon S Copa 1.6 TDI CR 105 PS which brings its price down to a remarkable £14,795. This is nothing short of the best ever RRP for the hyper economical Leon E Ecomotive.

And with a Solutions finance offer of £199 per month on the Leon S Copa 1.6 TDI CR 105 PS deposit of £3,751.59, 42-month agreement, terms and conditions apply, 8.9% APR representative) the Leon is now as affordable as it is frugal.

If you’re after a Leon with a little more ‘oomph’ then the current suite of deals includes three-year 0% finance and up to three years’ free servicing on all Leon FR, FR+ and Cupra R models (35% deposit, maximum 36-month term, free servicing only available with SEAT Finance offer, terms and conditions apply, 0% APR representative).

So, a Leon 1.4 TSI FR is currently available for just £329 per month over 36 months with a customer deposit of £6,671.

Tempting offers apply right across the SEAT range, with significant RRP savings available on Altea, Altea XL and Exeo family vehicles, plus a free servicing deal on the multi award-winning SEAT Alhambra (subject to conditions, SEAT Finance deals only).

The new offers represent some of SEAT’s most generous deals to date, as the Spanish car maker looks to consolidate its exceptional 2011 sales performance.

SEAT UK Head of Marketing Chris Stevens said: “After what I’m confident will prove to have been a record year for SEAT in 2011, I know our dealers are looking forward to an even more successful year ahead. I’m sure that these new deals, including our most tempting offers ever on popular models like the Ibiza SC SE Copa, will ensure SEAT showrooms nationwide are busier than ever throughout January and beyond.”

This is the all new Dacia (pronounced Dach-i-a) Lodgy! Is it something to get excited about? Oh yes. Set for a world debut at Geneva Motor Show in March 2012, the Lodgy is an MPV from James May’s favourite purveyor of reasonably priced cars.

The Lodgy will be available in either five or seven seat variations and is aimed at giving families who would typically purchase a used car a chance to have something new for the same sort of price point. Don’t expect Aston Martin luxury, but do expect good honest motoring at a very reasonable price.

Oh, and to make the story even more interesting, the Lodgy has even been racing! For its third campaign in France’s Trophée Andros ice-racing championship, Dacia has once again broken the rules by entering an MPV, Lodgy Glace, for the first time in the competition’s history. Two cars are contesting this winter’s series, shared by a particularly strong line-up of drivers: Alain Prost, Nicolas Prost and Evens Stievenart. Alain Prost tops the provisional standings with a score of two wins from three rounds ahead of the championship’s traditional Christmas break.

Here’s a funky new coupe which is sure to be a hit in the UK! It’s the Veloster from the increasingly popular brand Hyundai. How will it fair against the host of small coupes and hatchbacks that are out there in the market? And does it have the ‘X Factor’ appeal that the initial appearance seems to suggest? Watch the video to find out.

The Chevrolet range just keeps getting better here in the UK and the 2011 model deals at the moment are no exception. I’ve taken a look at three vehicles I think are particularly pertinent to us at the moment, including a cheap to run car, a handsome hatchback and a rugged SUV. Read on for some great car deals.

Chevrolet Spark
The Spark is a funky five door city car with a thoroughly modern vibe. It’s capable of seating five adults with space and comfort, and includes plenty of usable storage and cargo compartments.

Safety features are second to none with six zone airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and ISOFIX seat fixings to the two outer rear seats. The Spark also scores maximum points for its protection potential of a 3-year-old occupant during NCAP testing.

Two engine choices are available with the Spark; either a 1.0 litre or a 1.2. Both are designed with fuel efficiency and low maintenance and running costs in mind. Performance may not set you alight but it’ll be peppy in town with useable power.

The Spark can be made more individual with ‘Spark Tags’ – these are special packs that include exterior graphics and 4 matching carpet mats to give the look you desire. Options include ‘Urban Vibe’, ‘Sport Mode’ and ‘Pop Style’. You can take a closer look at www.personalisemyspark.co.uk.

Pricing for the Spark is from £7,375 on the road and 0% APR is currently available so it’s well worth a look.

Chevrolet Cruze
The Cruze is a sporty new hatchback version of the popular Saloon car. Immediately the design stands out with a swooping coupe style roofline and many of the other details mark this out as a well thought out car – the detailing on the swept lights for example make for a nice design feature.

You may be thinking to yourself ‘where have I seen the Cruze before’? The answer is, it’s Chevrolet’s super-successful World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) entry. Chevrolet continues to dominate the competition, winning both driver and manufacturer titles in 2010 and now in 2011 – by a huge margin over the second-placed BMW team. For more information on this year’s racing visit our WTCC page.

There are a range of powerplants available for the Cruze, including a 1.6 and 1.8 petrol and the pick of the crop, a 2.0 litre diesel engine with 163 PS. A 5 speed manual or 6 speed automatic are the options for transmission.

The Cruze has a whole raft of performance related safety features including ABS, TCS, ESC and EBD.

Pricing for the Cruze is from £13,995 on the road and Chevrolet has a number of Cruze offers currently running.

Chevrolet Captiva 2011
The Captiva has been re-launched in 2011 and is sure to be extremely popular with us car enthusiasts and Chelsea tractor drivers alike. It is an extremely purposeful looking SUV which has undergone significant enhancements over the previous variation, making it a very desirable proposition.

The new 7 seat car has three modular rows of seating which offers versatility. If you need to lug around heavy loads then just drop the seats – but it’s just as capable being a seven seater transport. Watch the video to see how you can mix and match between people carrying and load lugging.

There are two new diesel engines in the range for the 2011 Captiva. It’s a base 2.2 Litre unit which will be available in two power outputs of 163 or 184 PS. Not only is the new diesel unit more powerful, but it also has lower CO2 emissions, falling into lower taxation thresholds.

The Captiva is a real 4×4 rather than a front wheel drive look alike as so often they seem to be these days. It comes with TCS, ESP and BAS as standard. Also available is a Hill Start Assist and Descent Control System.

Pricing for the Captiva is from £21,995 on the road and Chevrolet has a number of Cruze offers currently running.

Conclusion
It may not be the first car brand that comes to mind when you’re looking to buy, but why not be original and take a look? You may just find a bargain and a wonderful unexpected gem of a car.

This is the new Vauxhall Astra VXR, set to be released next year. It is in effect the most powerful Vauxhall ever built (no, the VXR 8 doesn’t count, it’s actually a Holden rebadged).

The car is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection engine, producing 280hp of power and a mighty 400Nm of torque, enough for it to achieve a top speed of 155mph.

It is fitted with a limited slip differential for performance through the corners as well as the GTC’s sophisticated HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut), designed to provide lateral grip and traction through bends. The VXR has been around the Nurburgring a few times too in order to obtain as much racing performance for the street as possible.

Naturally there’s some visual cues to identify this car as the performance variant and they are plain to see. Perhaps the only question that remains is whether it’ll be able to compete with the latest Megane, Focus or Golf performance hatch.