Top rated 12-plate cars

This March sees the 61 registration bow out, to make way for the new 12-plate. It’s the busiest month of the year for car dealers, with customers queuing to own the latest model, registered with the latest digits.

Throughout the whole of this month, the Auto Trader team will be bringing you articles and videos on the newest and best cars to consider in the run-up to the 12-plate launch.

From the tiny Twingo, to the athletic Astra GTC and simply brilliant BMW 3 Series, we’ll have every category covered.

And we start the new car reg wish-list with something that may not have come up on your radar: the Hyundai i40 Tourer. Hyundai has made some real advances in both perceived quality and desirability, so if you’re after a bit of a hassle free workhorse, this may be just for you.

As each article is published, we’ll add its link to the bottom of this page, so feel free to bookmark this article now or visit the Auto Trader homepage every day in February for the latest 12-plate models.

From myself, and the rest of the Auto Trader editorial team, happy browsing!

12-plate wish list

Feb 01: Hyundai i40 Tourer
Feb 02: Audi A4
Feb 03: Ford Focus

12-plate wish list: Ford Focus 1.0

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

There used to be something desperately tragic about a 1.0-litre engine. Trundling along in the slow lane, lacking the power to take on the cut and thrust of traffic, a 1.0 was never a viable option in anything but the smallest hatchbacks. Fast forward to 2012 and it’s a very different prospect. With the cost of motoring increasing in every area, the potential for greater economy outweighs the need for speed in the eyes of most.

Thankfully, we can now have our cake and eat it, thanks to Ford’s range of EcoBoost engines. Already available in 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre guises, there is now a 1.0-litre turbocharged three cylinder version which will be first available in the Ford Focus.

Producing 123bhp – the power of a conventional 1.6-litre engine – and returning combined fuel economy of 56.5mpg, it may prove the ideal solution for those looking to save on fuel bills without skimping on performance or opting for a diesel model. Peak pulling power of 125lb/ft is available from 1,400-4,500rpm, which ensures that you won’t need to rev it mercilessly to make decent progress.

A lower powered 99bhp version will also be available, with an even better fuel consumption figure of 58.9mpg.

Official performance figures for the Focus 1.0-litre have yet to be confirmed, but don’t expect it to be lightning fast. However, the Ford Focus has a rare quality: it mates the drip-dry practicality needed in a family hatchback with a driving experience that will excite you like none of its competitors when you show it a winding stretch of tarmac. It probably won’t get you to your destination any quicker but it will be a whole lot more fun. And in this age of austerity, surely it’s fun and not outright speed that matters most?

12-plate wish list

Feb 01: Hyundai i40 Tourer
Feb 02: Audi A4
Feb 03: Ford Focus

View the original article here