Audi’s new A8, will be longer, wider, lower and packed with more cutting-edge features, yet about 30kg lighter when Audi’s alloy-chassis sedan flagship arrives here in late 2010. It will be highlighted by a new turbo V8 mated to an eight-speed auto and Quattro all-wheel drive.

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Cheaper to buy thanks to production moving to Turkey, the new, more conservatively-styled Megane will aim to compete head-on with its Japanese, European and South Korean rivals in terms of packaging, performance and equipment levels. A priority for the French firm is raising interior quality and ambience as well as refining the shut lines between body panels.

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The Punto range will be graced by a top-shelf Abarth SuperSport version in the third quarter, powered by a 111kW 1.4 turbo-petrol four. Driving through a six-speed manual, the Punto Abarth ‘essesse’ is good for 8.2-second 0-100km/h times.

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Mitsubishi is expected to introduce its Evo-look cosmetic facelift for its Colt light-car by mid 2010. With new Headlamps, bumper & grille, the updated Colt should also gain extra standard specifications. No mechanical changes are expected.

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Honda Australia is keen to get hold of its first real challenger to the Toyota Prius. The all-new five-door hybrid car went on sale in the US in April 2009. Styled after the sleek FCX Clarity hydrogen car that is in limited production, it will be smaller, lighter and priced below the Civic hybrid.

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The new GT will pack a home-grown supercharged 335kW/570Nm version of Ford’s new 5.0-litre Coyote V8 to make it the most powerful Australian-built mass-produced car at the time of release.

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Citroen will launch its DS3 range by mid-2010. Australia will be offered the 82kW 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine and the 112kW turbo-petrol engine. Both will be available here with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Priced from $30,000, the DS3 competes directly with BMW’s Mini and Fiat's 500.

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In addition to optional dual-fuel liquid propane injection system that will enable the 325kW V8 to run on LPG without a reduction in power, the updated Grange will feature high-tech goodies such as a blind-spot warning system and touch-screen with race-style data monitoring.

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