The new BMW M3 Competition and M4 Competition have been revealed ahead of deliveries beginning in March 2021.

Ordering is open now with the M3 Competition (pictured above) priced from £74,755 and the M4 Competition from £76,055.

Both versions feature a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo engine producing 510hp, paired with an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic gearbox (a manual is not available in the UK).

Both are also rear-wheel drive, with an M xDrive all-wheel drive version due from summer 2021.

The M3 Competition and M4 Competition share the same 0-62mph acceleration time of 3.9 seconds, plus the same combined fuel economy of 27.7mpg, and CO2 emissions of 234g/km.

BMW says power is up 60hp over the old M3 and M4, and there’s also more pulling power.

Top speed of both is 155mph… unless the M Pro Package is selected. Then, top speed goes up to 180mph.

BMW explains the new M models have Adaptive M suspension, 380mm front disc brakes and bespoke M ABS and M Traction Control.

The M Drive Professional system is new, too: this assesses “the driver’s ability to pilot the car through corners with plenty of oversteer and opposite lock”. We, literally, quote.

But it is the radical new front end of both models that is likely to draw most attention.

BMW skips over the massive kidney grilles, but there’s no denying they’re divisive.

Bold new colour choices only add to the drama: Sao Paulo Yellow and Isle of Man Green are pictured here, and Toronto Red is another new shade.

Intriguingly, both M3 Competition and M4 Competition feature 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the rear. BMW M brakes are available in blue, red or black; optional carbon ceramic brakes have gold calipers.

Geek fact: the M3 Competition is built in Munich, while the M4 Competition is built in Dingolfing, south Bavaria.  

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The new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class will cost from £78,705 and first UK cars will arrive late in 2020.

Set to be offered in five variants, with three engines, ordering for the new S-Class is open now.

Mercedes-Benz will sell both regular and long-wheelbase versions, and the core grade will be AMG Line: four upgrade packs (Premium, Premium Plus, Premium Executive and Premium Plus Executive) will build on this.

The entry-level version is the S 350 d AMG Line, priced from £78,705. This diesel variant produces 286hp, emits 173g/km CO2 and averages 40.4-42.8mpg.

Even this version is swift, accelerating from 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds.

The S 400 d 4MATIC, an all-wheel drive diesel, is only available in long wheelbase guise, and costs from £94,135.

This punchy diesel produces 330hp, emits 192g/km CO2 and averages 37.7-38.7mpg. 0-62mph takes 5.4 seconds.

The petrol alternative is the S 500 4MATIC, priced from £89,105. This produces 435hp and takes 4.9 seconds from 0-62mph. It averages 32.8-34.9mpg and emits 194g/km CO2.

Top spec

Every new S-Class features MBUX infotainment with a 12.8-inch OLED central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch driver display – and some have an MBUX tablet, which can be taken out of the car and used as a regular Android device.

Every person in the S-Class can now say ‘Hey Mercedes’ and activate the built-in virtual assistant.

Equipment is comprehensive. All S-Class feature Nappa leather upholstery, soft-close doors, all-round heated seats and 19-inch alloys.

AMG Line Premium trim ups the alloys to 20-inches and adds Burmester 3D surround sound audio, a panoramic sliding sunroof, 3D driver display and active ambient lighting.

AMG Line Premium Plus has 21-inch alloys, plus luxuries such as heated front and rear door arm rests and an augmented reality head-up display.

Executive pack can be added to either Premium or Premium Plus, for £3,795. It includes an MBUX rear tablet, electric sunblinds, electric footrest on the back of the front passenger seat, plus a chauffeur package.

Mercedes-Benz adds the arrival of 4MATIC all-wheel drive for the S 400 d and S 500 is a first for right-hand drive S-Class.

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Ordering has opened for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI and plug-in hybrid GTE range, with prices starting from £33,460.

The eighth generation Golf GTI launches with 245hp from its 2.0-litre turbo engine.

The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual: a seven-speed DSG costs £34,960.

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In DSG guise, the new Golf GTI accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds (the manual is a little slower), and both have a 155mph top speed.

The Golf GTI DSG is also slightly more fuel-efficient, averaging between 37.2-38.2mpg; the manual returns 36.7-38.2mpg. Both have a sub-170g/km CO2 figure in base guise.

What’s special about the Golf GTI? At the front, an illuminated grille strip, plus honeycomb LED fog lights and a set of 18-inch alloys.

The Golf GTI gets custom front and rear bumpers, twin chrome tail pipes, roof spoiler and smoked rear lights.

It has a sport steering wheel, aluminium gearshifter and sports seats with the traditional Golf GTI Jacara check cloth.

2021 Golf GTE

For those who want a more eco-friendly hot hatch, Volkswagen has also opened ordering for the new 2021 Golf GTE PHEV.

It produces the same 245hp output as the GTE – from a plug-in hybrid drivetrain comprising a 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine and a 110hp electric motor.

The 13kWh battery gives enough charge for 32 miles’ electric driving.

The GTE accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds and, more significantly, returns 176.6mpg on the official WLTP combined cycle.

CO2 emissions are just 36g/km.

The GTE, which comes as standard with a six-speed DSG transmission, costs from £35,960.

Instead of the GTI’s red styling theme, the GTE has blue accents for the exterior and interior Jacara check cloth.

The wheels shrink to a more eco-friendly 17-inches and the tailpipes are hidden from view.

Volkswagen also gives two charging cables to Golf GTE buyers: a regular mains charging cable and a 16 am AC cable for wallboxes: the latter will charge at 3.6kW from flat to full in three hours 40 minutes.

A Volkswagen spokesperson told Motoring Research deliveries of the Golf GTI DSG begin in October, and November for the manual.

Golf GTE deliveries begin in early October.

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The new Ford Puma ST hot SUV has been revealed with ordering open now and deliveries expected before the end of 2020.

Prices start from £28,495.

Derived from the acclaimed Fiesta ST, the Puma ST shares its 200hp 1.5-litre Ecoboost turbo engine, for 0-62mph in just 6.7 seconds (which can be aided by optional launch control).

Yet standard cylinder deactivation technology will also deliver 40.9mpg and CO2 emissions from 155g/km.

While it still has a sports exhaust system, Ford says the Puma ST is 1dB quieter than the Fiesta ST, with family-friendly refinement in mind.

“Real driving enthusiasts aren’t going to settle for less excitement just because life demands a more ‘sensible’ car,” said Ford Performance manager Stefan Muenzinger.

“Our number one priority was that the Puma ST had to be as exhilarating and capable as every ST model, without sacrificing any of Puma’s practicality.

“We believe that we have the best-handling small SUV in its segment. It is a joy to drive.” 

Puma ST: sporty SUV

Ford has extensively overhauled the already-impressive chassis of the regular Puma.

19-inch wheels are fitted with specially-developed Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, brakes are 17 percent larger and the steering is 25 percent faster.

There are anti-roll bars front and rear, and the rear suspension has been stiffened 50 percent over the regular Puma – and 40 percent over the Fiesta ST, to offset the Puma’s taller body.

Patented springs and Hitachi twin-tube frequency-reactive dampers are another highlight.

Ford is even offering an optional Performance Pack, for £950. This includes a limited-slip differential (the Puma ST is the first SUV of this size to feature such a performance-focused gadget) and launch control.

Extreme Puma

A full styling makeover includes a Ford Performance front splitter that improves front end downforce by 80 percent. There is a bigger rear roof spoiler and a diffuser in the rear bumper.

Special ST upper and lower grilles are distinctive and deliver extra engine cooling.

It is offered in six colours: Agate Black, Desert Island Blue, Fantastic Red, Frozen White, Magnetic and this ST-exclusive Mean Green.

All colours are offset with standard gloss black roof, grille surrounds, door mirrors, side spears and rear roof spoiler.

Bolstered Recaro seats are also standard, trimmed in Miko Dinamica upholstery that stops occupants sliding around in corners.

Ford hasn’t compromised practicality though. The boot remains best-in-class at 456 litres and the clever 80-litre MegaBox remains beneath the boot floor.

Other standard equipment includes 8.0-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, premium B&O sound system, all-round parking sensors, Quickclear heated windscreen and wireless smartphone charging.

Ordering for the new Puma ST is open now, with deliveries expected before the end of the year.

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