By Mr.Clarkson’s own admission, 2010 was a poor year for motoring, debuts of fire-breathing supercars were scarce, instead international motor-shows were dominated by small, ultra-frugal city cars and members of the next generation of motoring, electric cars.

Indeed 2010 was the year of electric, manufacturing of the Nissan Leaf, the first mass-produced electric car, began and numerous other manufacturers announced details of their first tentative steps into this brave new world (see previous post).

Even the curly-haired messiah of motoring had something to get excited about in 2010, a year dominated by austerity and tentativeness. Jaguar made speed demons sigh with relief as they revealed their CX-75 concept, an electric powered beast that hinted at what was to come from sports car manufacturers in a world where vehicles will be propelled by volts instead of unleaded.

So what of the coming year? 2011 looks to be a bumper year for petrol (and electric) heads with some exciting new model launches on the cards. Let’s take a look at what’s in store;

Ford Focus Coupe

Some are optimistically calling this confirmed model the ‘new Capri’, but whether or not Ford rekindles this iconic name, the Focus Coupe is set be a real classic. Refining the Focus’ lines, the Coupe looks sleek and smooth and is set to rival the VW Scirocco, Renault Megane and Vauxhall Astra.

Aston Martin Cygnet

No, you haven’t had one too many festive Sherries, Aston Martin really is releasing a super-mini! The Cygnet is motivated by new emissions laws which mean that manufacturers must hit a target average emissions figure for their entire range, this city runaround will significantly bring the figure down for the prestige British marquee. Some will be delighted by the prospect of getting their hands on the sought after badge for £30,000, but at such a high price point for it’s size, it is bound to attract criticism

BMW 1-Series M Coupe

BMW recently announced its ‘baby’ M car, this will build on the success of the 1-Seies coupe, dropping in 3 lire turbo engine and beefing up the body work. The car is an understudy to the M3 and M5, but at just under £40,000, it certainly doesn’t have a baby price tag!

Range Rover Evqoue

This British 4×4 manufacturer has been going through a gradual image change for some time now. In days gone by the brand was associated with ruggedness and agriculture, but the shift towards people seeing 4x4s as luxury vehicles and fashion accessories has meant Land Rover capitalising on the trend. The Evoque is low, sleek, stylish and almost certainly won’t make it up a muddy hill!

Nissan Leaf

Ok, ok so you might not be bubbling over with anticipation for Nissan’s new flagship electric model, but it deserves a mention for being the first of its kind and a true innovation. The Leaf does not come cheap, but the government is offering a grant to entice punters, and it will eventually pay for itself, considering the amount you’ll save on petrol.

This is just a small sample of what motoring-enthusiasts have to look forward to in the New Year, there is more quality automotive action on the horizon and like 2010, there will no doubt be a few surprises! You can rest assured that Nationwide Vehicle Contracts will strive to stock the best new releases in 2011, all available on attractive contract hire deals.

LA is the place to be seen… at least this week it is!

Land Rover, Jaguar, Nissan and Porsche are just a few of the manufacturers making waves at this years 2010 LA Auto Show, showing off some of the hottest new cars around. From all-electric vehicles to gas-guzzling monsters, the LA Auto Show has seen it all!  

To celebrate the innovation, creativity and sheer genius of the automotive industry, we’ve put together a few of the hottest car to steal the limelight at this years Los Angeles Motor Show. Jealous? You should be…

Range Rover Evoque 5-Door

Following in the trackmarks of the 3-door model which debuted at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year, the Range Rover Evoque 5-door was certainly causing a stir at the LA Auto Show this week. Land Rover’s new baby is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever built, boasting a 2.0-litre Si4 direct injection turbocharged capable of generating up to 240 bhp and accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. Three design themes – all with a distinct interior and exterior package – are available on the new model. It’s also generously equipped boasting a high-end Meridian audio system with 17-speaker system, surround camera system, advanced navigation system, adaptive Xenon headlights and heated windscreen, seats and steering wheel.

Jaguar C-X75 Concept

The stunning Jaguar C-X75 Concept made its North American debut at the LA Auto Show, making waves amongst hybrid/electric car fans. The clever C-X75 concept boasts four 195bhp electric motors – one in each wheel – producing an impressive 780bhp and a top speed of 205mph. The C-X75’s sleek aluminium and carbon fibre bodywork also means it’s relatively light, helping the supercar to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds. And just incase you weren’t impressed enough… the new supercar emits CO2 emissions of just 28g/km! Genius!

Toyota RAV4 EV

The much anticipated Toyota RAV4 EV took center stage at the LA Auto Show as Toyota and Tesla showed off their production version of the all-electric car. Essentially, the new Toyota is just a RAV4 model kitted out with an all-electric powertrain and a few minor changes to its features and cosmetics. Little technical and performance details of the new RAV4 EV were actually revealed but Toyota did say the RAV4 hybrid is capable of a consistent 100 miles range and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph almost as good as the V6 version.

Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet

Nissan broke new ground this week when it unveiled the 2011 Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet – the first-ever crossover convertible.  The striking new Murano Cross Cabriolet is an all-wheel-drive, four-seat monster, powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine capable of producing an impressive 265hp. Nissan claims the new model offers the open-air exhilaration of a convertible while extending the versatility of the existing Murano model. With room for four adults, space for golf bags or luggage (even with the top down), and a premium level interior, the Murano Cross Cabriolet represents a breakthrough in concept and design. The new Nissan model is expected to go on sale in early 2011.

Subaru Impreza Design Concept

Finally, previewing the automakers new ‘Confidence in Motion’ design and brand strategy, Subaru unleashed the Subaru Impreza Design Concept to audiences at the LA Auto Show. The sporty four-door coupe features a fresh exterior design, the latest infotainment and safety technology as well as Subaru’s next-generation 2.0-litre Boxer engine and CVT transmission. Subaru’s new active safety EyeSight system also made an appearance on the vehicle, which has been designed to help spots hazards around the car and displays images on the vehicles monitor.

All the above cars are on at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show from 19th – 28th November.

Most people celebrate the New Year by throwing a massive party, indulging in too much champagne and trying their luck with a cheeky kiss at midnight… but not Land Rover.

The famous automaker has decided to celebrate 2011 with two brand new limited edition Discovery 4 models – and why not?

From January, two new Land Rover Discovery 4 ‘Landmark’ Limited Edition models will be unleashed onto the UK market, featuring a new striking style with contrasting black and white colour scheme. The new models bring in a fresh, more contemporary design to the popular Discovery 4 model which has won over 150 awards since it launch in 1989.

The new Landmark model is available in Santorini Black or Fuji White colour schemes and features a high-specification Taurus interior leather in Ebony or – for the first time in a Discovery – Ivory. The new bold colour combinations offer a striking contemporary finish to the standard Grand Ivory veneer finish offered in current Discovery 4 line-up. The exterior also benefits from Santorini Black finish grille vanes, gloss black 20″ 5-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels, privacy glass and Satin Black extended roof rails.

“The new Landmark Limited Edition Discovery 4 has been created to offer our customers more choice,” said Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern. “The Discovery 4 is already the ultimate all-purpose vehicle, but we’ve brought a new, bolder, more contemporary edge to the design, offering a higher level of luxury in the cabin.”

Under the bonnet, the new Discover 4 Landmark models benefit from Land Rover’s highly efficient 3.0 litre SDV6 twin turbo diesel engine that offers a 9% fuel economy improvement, compared to 2.7 litre engine it replaced and reduced CO2 emissions of 10% compared to the previous model.

All variants come with Land Rover’s award-winning Terrain ResponseTM system, which offers five different settings to suit different terrains and optimises the vehicle on virtually all on-road or off-road driving situations.

The new Land Rover Discovery 4 Landmark Limited Edition model will go on-sale in the UK from January 2011, priced at £46,945 OTR.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has some fantastic car leasing offers available across the full Land Rover line-up. Simply follow the links or call the Nationwide team on 0844 482 9595 for an instant quotation on any vehicle in the Land Rover range.