The new BMW M5 will go on sale in February 2018, priced from £89,640 and equipped with four-wheel drive for the first time in its six-generation history. It’s thus half a second faster from 0-62mph than the final incarnation of its predecessor, despite having no more power. It will, boasts BMW, “surpass all previous incarnations”.

Derived from the acclaimed G30 5 Series, BMW has retained the 4.4-litre biturbo V8 engine from the old model, albeit much revised with upgrades such as higher fuel injection pressures, improved oil and cooling systems, and more efficient exhaust manifolds. The gearbox is all-new, though: an eight-speed automatic called M Steptronic with Drivelogic, replacing the old M DCT dual-clutch seven-speeder.

More on MR: 

• Meet the new 4WD 2017 BMW M5
• 600hp BMW M5 30 jahre limited edition CONFIRMED
• BMW Concept Z4 revealed: meet the new 2018 Z4?

All-wheel drive is the big switch, although even here, BMW says the M xDrive system retains a pure rear-wheel-drive setup until traction from the rear tyres is exhausted – then the front wheels come into play. In regular guise, it’s safe and surefooted: a Dynamic mode biases more drive to the rear, for “controlled drifts and playful handling”.

Like arch-rival Mercedes-AMG’s new E63, the latest M5 also allows drivers to disengage the all-wheel drive system entirely. BMW’s keen to underline this is only for track use, but it will allow tyre-smoking fun all day long, or at least as long as there’s rubber on the back wheels.

That’s for showboating though: for maximum speed, keep everything engaged, and you can enjoy 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds (the old M5 did it in 3.9 seconds), and 0-124mph in 11.1 seconds. For comparison, the Porsche 911 GT3 with PDK can only match the new M5’s 0-62mph time: choose the manual GT3 instead, and it trails it by half a second… 26.9mpg combined and 241g/km CO2 are a little better than the Porsche, too.

Visually, the new M5 packs purposeful but understated clout. There’s a new aluminium bonnet, more muscular aluminium front wings and, for the first time on an M5, a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof. The front bumper is all-new, dramatically carved out to feed plentiful air towards the engine and brakes. The oil cooler is built into its lower central section, making it look even more purposeful.

A chunky rear diffuser and boot lip spoiler help perfectly set off the trademark BMW M quad exhaust tail pipes, which feature flap-controlled noise control within: they can be silenced by pressing the M Sound Control button.

Inside, BMW fits Cup-style M multifunctional seats clad in soft fine grain Merino leather, and both the starter button and ‘M’ buttons on the steering wheel are now lacquered in bright red. It is a four-seater though, rather than a five-seater: the rear chairs have a similarly occupant-hugging profile. A configurable M instrument display features shift-up lights: if you wish, they and more essential info can be replicated in the head-up display.

Colours? There’s a new Marina Bay blue pictured here, plus some matt hues such as Frozen Dark Silver or Frozen Arctic Grey. BMW makes no mention of the odd matt red pictured here…

See the new 2018 BMW M5 in public for the first time at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show next month. If you want one of the first in the UK when sales start in February 2018, best get onto your dealer right now.

Trials of high-visibility orange smart motorway emergency areas are being extended to the M1, after first being launched on the M3 near Camberley in July.

• Smart motorway emergency areas to turn ORANGE

The new-look emergency areas have orange road surfaces and benefit from much clearer advance signage, as Highways England tries to both improve their visibility and encourage their safe use.

14 of the new-look orange emergency areas are being installed on the M1 between junction 16 (Northampton) and junction 19 (Catthrope) as part of an ongoing smart motorway upgrade for the busy section.

What is a smart motorway?

A smart motorway is one using variable speed limits to control traffic flow and try to avoid stop-start congestion. Since 2004, smart motorway upgrades have also converted the hard shoulder into an additional running lane for when traffic is heavy.

An extended CCTV network helps Highways England operators monitor the motorway: they can immediately close lanes when they observe an incident.

Highways England says smart motorways improve journey times “and are just as safe as conventional motorways”. Some drivers remain confused by them – for example, continuing to drive on the hard shoulder when it is closed.

This is why Highways England is stepping up efforts to inform motorists. A national TV, radio and social media campaign is currently running, to tell drivers not to use lanes closed by ‘Red X’ overhead signs.

Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan hopes the move will help allay motorists’ safety concerns over smart motorways. “We recognise the public concern about smart motorways and we will also believe that changes such as these will help drivers have confidence when using them and be clear about where they can stop in an emergency.”

Hence the new orange emergency areas. “The bright orange colouring will make them as easy as possible to spot and should also discourage drivers from using them in non-emergency situations.

“I hope it helps drivers feel more confident about using a smart motorway.”

2017 is proving to be a difficult time for new car sales, with the SMMT reporting a record low since 2012 for registrations so far this year. As the plate-change month of September nears, a time when manufacturers typically go all-out to attract customers to showrooms, there’s no shortage of tempting offers available. We’ve hunted out the best September 2017 new car offers – from £11,500 off a new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT to free insurance for 18 year olds on a Seat Ibiza.

Alfa Romeo

Alfa is currently offering a £2,000 deposit contribution across a number of its models, including the Mito, Giulietta, Giulia and 4C when you take a test drive before September 30th. That doesn’t extend to the new Stelvio, unfortunately, but Alfa is offering a £439/month four-year PCP deal on its desirable new crossover.

See Alfa Romeo new car offers

Audi

There’s no shortage of finance deals available from your Audi dealer this September. One that caught our eye is a £299 a month Personal Contract Plan (PCP) offer on its ever-popular TT coupe. That’s following a £4,588.80 customer deposit, and a further £4,000 provided by the dealer. Hand it back after four years or stump up £13,295.25 to keep hold of it.

See Audi new car offers

BMW

If you’re looking to swap your car every three or four years, Personal Contract Hire (PCH) deals can often work out slightly cheaper than PCP. BMW is currently offering its M140i Shadow Edition for £299 per month over four years on a PCH scheme. You’ll need to stump up an initial rental of £6,579.

Got an old diesel car to trade in? If it’s a Euro 4 standard or below, BMW will give you an extra £2,000 towards your new car… 

See BMW new car offers

Citroen

Anyone car shopping on a budget should visit their nearest Citroen dealer for some great September 2017 new car offers. Until 30 September 2017, the French manufacturer is offering a £1,900 deposit contribution on its quirky C4 Cactus through its PCP scheme. Meanwhile, its popular C3 supermini is available with three years’ free servicing.

See Citroen new car offers

Dacia

While a £400 dealer deposit contribution doesn’t sound like a huge amount, £149 per month following a £1,880 customer deposit for a brand new Duster sounds like excellent value to us. The Sandero, meanwhile, is available from just £89 a month following a very reasonable £1,485 customer deposit.

See Dacia new car offers

DS

The DS 3 is getting old, but remains a fine supermini – and DS is offering up to £3,500 deposit contribution on certain models until 30th September. While the DS 4 isn’t as desirable, it’s available with £2,800 deposit contribution, and DS is offering £2,950 towards PCP plans on its DS 5.

See DS new car offers

Fiat

A £1,250 deposit contribution from Fiat results in £795 left to pay up front for a new 500 Lounge, followed by 48 monthly payments of £179. If you’d prefer something a little sportier, the carmaker is offering £2,500 towards a 124 Spider on PCP. That results in a customer deposit of £2,330, followed by 37 monthly payments of £249. Suddenly, buying a convertible in September seems sensible…

See Fiat new car offers

Ford

Ford currently has some tempting offers available across its range, including up to £2,950 off the Focus Titanium and Titanium X, and £2,750 across the Mondeo range. Add an extra £500 to that if you take a test drive and sign on the dotted line before August 31st.

Update – 22 August 2017

Ford has launched a scrappage scheme for older cars! It’s a true scrappage scheme too: all eligible – that’s Euro 1-4 cars registered before 31 December 2009 – will be scrapped and thus removed from British roads. The incentive is in addition to any of the offers outlined above, meaning buyers could save up to £7000 for switching into a green new car. 

See Ford new car offers

Honda

Meanwhile, Honda is offering a deposit contribution of up to £3,000 when buying on finance. For the maximum discount, you’ll need to buy a 1.6-litre CRV SE Plus 2wd, which’ll cost £319 a month on PCP. That’s after a deposit of £4,725.38, plus Honda’s £3,000 contribution, with an optional payment of £11,505.14 if you wish to keep the car after three years.

See Honda new car offers

Hyundai

Like Honda, Hyundai isn’t holding back on deposit contributions for PCP buyers. There’s £750 to be had towards certain i10 models, while the new i30 is available with a contribution up to £1,500. If you want a Sante Fe SUV, meanwhile, Hyundai will put a hefty £5,000 towards your deposit. These generous discounts can also be combined with 0 percent finance on certain i30 trims, making it very attractive indeed.

See Hyundai new car offers

Infiniti

Many car buyers will overlook Nissan’s posh sub-brand, Infiniti, but our research suggests you’d be daft to be so hasty. The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Q50 is available with a hefty £4,500 deposit contribution on PCP, taking the customer deposit down to £431 if you can afford monthly repayments of £431 over four years. There’s £2,250 available towards a Q30 too.

See Infiniti new car offers

Jaguar

Think premium brands like Jaguar wouldn’t resort to tempting discounts in a bid to sell cars? You’d be wrong – especially when it comes to ageing, expensive cars like the Jaguar XJ. Jag is currently offering a whopping £10,558 deposit contribution on a new XJ Luxury, along with interest-free finance over three years. You’ll just need to work out a way of affording the £499 monthly repayments.

See Jaguar new car offers

Jeep

The big news at Jeep is a massive £9,500 deposit contribution towards a Grand Cherokee SRT, plus an extra £2,000 if you take a test drive before the end of September plus 0 percent APR interest. While the fuel costs might put some off, the £2,000 test drive offer also extends to the Renegade and Cherokee. The latter is also available with a £6,000 deposit contribution with certain trims.

See Jeep new car offers

Kia

Kia’s offering a year’s free insurance and £500 towards its affordable Picanto and Rio models. Tempting for new drivers, but beware that the Ts and Cs state you have to be aged between 21 and 79 to take up the free insurance offer. Moving up the range, there are a number of tempting offers – including free servicing on various models, a £3,000 deposit contribution towards a Soul EV, and a free upgrade from an Optima saloon to an estate.

See Kia new car offers

Land Rover

With most of Land Rover’s range looking pretty fresh, there’s no need to offer tempting deals to lure customers into showrooms. If you look, though, they are to be had. How does £2,250 towards an Evoque sound? 6.9 percent APR finance takes the edge of it a little, but it’s still a decent offer.

See Land Rover new car offers

Lexus

A combination of dealer and manufacturer deposit contributions means you can save £2,000 off most of the Lexus range, along with other tempting deals including two years’ free servicing on CT and IS models.

See Lexus new car offers

Mazda

If you’re looking for a likeable supermini, the Mazda 2 is available with a tempting 0 percent PCP offer, along with a £850 deposit contribution. The bigger Mazda 6, meanwhile, is available with £2,500 towards your deposit.

See Mazda new car offers

Mercedes-Benz

Few people can afford to buy a brand new Mercedes-Benz outright, but fear not – there’s some excellent deals to be had through the firm’s Agility PCP scheme. How does more than £8,500 towards a G-Class tempt you, or over £12,000 towards a new S-Class? Admittedly the £699 monthly payments of the latter might be a bit high, but the A-Class can be had for £279 a month, following a £3,499 deposit and an extra £674 from your dealer.

If you’re trading in an EU1 – EU4 diesel car before the end of December, it’s also worth noting that Mercedes-Benz will also give you a £2,000 ‘changeover bonus’…

See Mercedes-Benz new car offers

MG

While MG isn’t offering any contribution towards a deposit on either its 3 or GS models, there is 0 percent finance available across the range. That translates to a tempting £115.93 per month over five years, following a reasonable £1,739 deposit. We’d be surprised if you couldn’t negotiate a discount, too…

See MG new car offers

Mini

“50 Mini Select PCP finance offers,” boasts the website. Where do you even begin? With the keenest deal on the best-value Mini there is, the Cooper three-door. For £169 a month over four years, it’s yours on a 5.9 percent APR PCP deal – all you have to do is find £2894 as a deposit, to which Mini will add £1400 to sweeten the deal further. Need more practicality? Take a five-door for £10 a month more. Want more economy? The Cooper D is £10 a month more again – but as the Cooper S also costs £189 a month on this offer, we’re pretty sure we’d hang the economy and go for the fun of 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds… meanwhile, other Minis have plentiful deals too – you can get a family-friendly Cooper Clubman from £199 a month, for example. There really is something for everyone.

See Mini new car offers

Mitsubishi

There’s a pick-and-mix offer of three years’ 0 percent APR with zero deposit on key Mitsubishi models, but perhaps the more well-rounded deal is the 5.9 percent APR PCP incentive on the Outlander PHEV. With Mitsubishi’s £2500 deposit contribution, and the £2500 you get from the Government’s Plug-in Car Grant, this takes the monthly cost of a £39,455 Outlander PHEV 4h variant down to £325 a month. Still too much? Have a used Outlander PHEV from £179 a month, so long as you can find a £6k deposit.

See Mitsubishi new car offers

Nissan

The standout Nissan offer this September is its deal on the Leaf. Yes, we’ll see its replacement next month, but that car won’t be here for a while yet – and can you resist a stonking £4000 deposit contribution on the current one? All you need is a £2768 deposit, then it’s yours for just £219 a month for three years, on 3 percent APR – and Nissan will even throw in a free home charger. If electric is still not for you, there’s a £1600 deposit contribution on the Micra, £2300 on the Juke, and a full £2500 on the old-shape Qashqai. Even if you prefer the facelifted model, Nissan will still chuck in £1500 to get you started on the 4 percent APR PCP.

See Nissan new car offers

Peugeot

No significant deals on the in-demand new 3008 SUV, but that doesn’t stop other key models boasting some tasty offers. The 208 supermini, for instance, can be bought from £149 a month, on a 2.9 percent APR PCP, with the dealer chucking in a £2000 deposit contribution. Still want an SUV though? Try the 2008, yours from £169 a month on a 4.9 percent APR PCP, and again with a £2000 deposit add-in. You can even get a 308 family hatch on 0 percent APR, with up to £1700 deposit contribution: yours from £249 a month.

See Peugeot new car offers

Renault

F1 fans have plenty of reason to test drive a new Renault this September: they’ll all go into a draw to win a drive in a Renault F1 racing car. Back down to earth, all new Renaults currently offer two years’ free servicing, while the Captur and Kadjar come with three years’ 0 percent APR, and the popular Clio costs from £139 a month in 1.2 75 Dynamique Nav guise (yes, that’s a supermini with standard sat nav, for just £139 a month). You can even have models such as the racy Renault Sport Clio 200 Turbo for just £89 a month, on 0 percent finance – provided you can find an £8400 deposit and, after three years, an £8600 final payment.

See Renault new car offers

Seat

Seat will give you £500 off a new car simply by turning up between now and October to take a test drive. That’s on top of model-specific offers, and one of the best surely is the £1500 deposit contribution on the excellent all-new Ibiza SE, if you take out a four-year, 4.9 percent APR PCP. Even more striking, Seat will even give a year’s free insurance to those aged 18 or over, potentially a massive saving on a car that, in 1.0 95 SE guise, costs from £195 a month. There’s also a £2250 deposit contribution deal on the Leon, with a lower 4.9 percent APR PCP deal.

See Seat new car offers

Skoda

Skoda is Volkswagen’s value brand and it intends to live up to that this September. PCP deals start with a 2.9 percent APR offer on the Citigo, with a £1000 deposit contribution; the Fabia doubles that contribution, and a similar offer is available on the Octavia as well. You can get a £3000 contribution on the Superb, but the APR jumps up to 4.9 percent; if that’s a bit rich, take 0 percent finance on the Yeti, with a £1500 deposit contribution. As for the in-demand Kodiaq, that has a 5.6 percent APR deal with a £2000 deposit contribution: simply taking a test drive adds an extra £1000 to this. Oh, and all new Skodas come with three years’ free roadside assistance too.

See Skoda new car offers

Smart

A number of offers across the Smart range, and the headline one is the simplest: take a well-equipped 71hp Fortwo Passion, with metallic paint, for £139 a month over four years, with zero deposit and 0 percent APR. Smart adds in a £1053 deposit contribution too, just to further sweeten the deal. If the Fortwo doesn’t have enough seats, a Forfour Passion is yours from £169 a month.

See Smart new car offers

Ssangyong

‘Choose your offer,’ says SsangYong: it’s got no end of them in time for the 67-plate new registration. The headline-grabbing one is a free upgrade on the Tivoli: choose a model and you can add on either an automatic gearbox or 4×4 running gear, or move on up to the roomier XLV variant, without extra charge. Impressive, huh? There’s an extra £1000 deposit contribution on certain variants too, while all SsangYongs offer a five-year unlimited mileage warranty. SsangYong’s also running a 48-hour test drive programme, should you still need convincing one of its bargain-priced vehicles is for you.

See SsangYong new car offers

Subaru

Subaru has a few September 2017 new car offers for business users, such as a WRX STi for £329 + VAT a month for brave company car drivers who don’t mind being crippled on benefit-in-kind tax, but the tastier deals are the PCP offers for retail buyers. Get ready for winter with a £2500 deposit contribution on a Forester’s four-year 6.9 percent APR finance package: and if that’s a bit utilitarian, the posher Outback ups the deposit contribution by another £1000. Just make sure you keep the mileage down to below 6000 a year.

See Subaru new car offers

Suzuki

Many of Suzuki’s cars are so affordable, even £500 off amounts to a hefty saving: it’s yours, Celerio buyers. We’d rather go for the excellent new Swift though, particularly as you can take it with four years’ 0 percent finance, with zero deposit. Simply pay the monthly £192 cost of, say, a SZ-T 5dr, and it’s yours. How’s that for a deal? There’s also up to £2000 off the Baleno, taking entry prices down to under £10,000, and a 2.9 APR finance deal on the Vitara that’ll get you a 1.6 SZ-T for just £199 a month. Oh, and back to the Celerio: if you’re quick, you can pick up one of 500 City special editions, which Suzuki is currently offering on a four-year PCP for a mere £85 a month.

See Suzuki new car offers

Tesla

Startup electric car company Tesla has some very keen 1.5 percent PCP deals, but also has a typically innovative additional offer. Know someone who already owns a Model S or Model S? Ask them for a special referral code: owners can give up to five friends £750 off a Model S or Model X, plus unlimited free Supercharging. What’s in for them? Special owners’ rewards, including an owner-only upgrade to 21-inch Arachnid forged alloy wheels, VIP access to the launch of Tesla’s new truck, even access to a bespoke red Tesla Powerwall 2 home energy storage system. Genuinely, unlike any other September offers we know of.

See Tesla owner referral programme

Toyota

Plenty of 0 percent finance offers on mainstream Toyotas: you can pick up interest-free finance from £129 a month on an Aygo, £169 a month on a Yaris and £199 a month on an Auris. A RAV4 Hybrid Business Edition SUV looks a bargain at £229 a month on 0 percent finance, particularly as the C-HR crossover SUV can only do 5.9 percent APR – that’s their respective customer demand right there. There’s a head v heart 4.9 percent APR finance deal with £1000 deposit contribution, too: either the GT86 or Prius. Which would you go for – green or great fun?

See Toyota new car offers

Vauxhall

We half wonder if anyone has ever successfully navigated the full plethora of Vauxhall offers, so numerous are they. 0 percent finance, PCP incentives, low-rate contract hire, even £2000 trade-in ‘scrappage’ incentives – they’re all here. Really, you need either the patience of a saint or the help of a dealer to navigate them: grab a cuppa and head on over to Vauxhall’s site to get stuck in…

Update – 23 August 2017

Vauxhall has given its scrappage scheme a soft relaunch, highlighting some of the special deals it has for its dealers’ September 2017 new car offers billboards. Such as the popular Mokka crossover SUV: include scrappage and you can get up to £4400 off. It’s not just Vauxhall owners who are being drawn in either, added the firm: 63 percent of Vauxhall scrappage scheme owners come from other brands…

See Vauxhall new car offers

Volkswagen

Volkswagen is on a UK sales drive right now. It seems intent on becoming Britain’s second-most-popular brand, overtaking Vauxhall, and has the staggering deals to help it achieve this. How about a £1800 deposit contribution on a Polo, with 6.0 percent APR finance? £1000 deposit on a Golf, on 4.9 percent APR? A hefty £4000 on a Passat, or up to £6000 on a Touareg? There’s £3500 off a Scirocco, and you can get three years’ servicing for just £149, while even the brand-new Arteon is offering a £3000 deposit contribution on a 4.9 percent APR PCP.

See Volkswagen new car offers

Volvo

If you like free servicing, you’ll love Volvo this September: three years’ free maintenance is offered on every single new car it sells. Other incentives are added on, which largely correlate to the age and popularity of the car in question: on the XC60 and XC90 SUVs, it’s restricted to a 5.9 percent APR PCP deal. On the V90 and S90, the APR rate drops to 4.9 percent; on the S60 and V60, Volvo adds in a £750 deposit contribution. The V40 has the best package of all: 3.9 percent APR and a £1000 deposit contribution.

See Volvo new car offers

Oxford United has come up with an unusual way to improve players’ performance – threaten them with a Rover Metro if they lag behind during training.

Coach Pep Clotet has bought the L-reg Metro and given it a distinctive facelift, with a pink roof and yellow go-faster stripes. He told the Oxford Mail he’ll award it to the player who puts in the worst performance in training.

Midfielder Josh Ruffels was one of the first to get a glimpse of the retro Metro when it arrived on Wednesday.

“You’ve got to drive it in for a week, so we were having a laugh in it testing it out,” explained the footballer.

“It should be quite fun when it starts, but the pressure’s on.

“You don’t want to be the worst trainer.”

The 23-year-old car has covered nearly 100,000 miles and required a substantial amount of welding to get it through its last MOT test.

It’s a contrast to former premier league champions Leicester City, whose chairman treated players to a fleet of BMW i8s last year.

 

New whip ??

A post shared by Josh Ruffels (@jruffels93) on Aug 15, 2017 at 7:54am PDT

Used car sales in Britain slowed over the last three months, reports the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), reflecting the big slowdown in the new car market. 13.5 percent fewer used cars were sold in April, May and June – that’s almost 285,000 fewer secondhand car transactions.

Analysts say the slowdown reflects a lack of consumer confidence in the marketplace, and Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, admitted it came as no surprise.

More used cars on MR: 

• Used electric car searches up 680% on day of 2040 announcement
• The Toyota Prius is Britain’s fastest-selling used car
• Revealed: the safest used first cars for new drivers

The cause? Overall market turbulence set off by the introduction of April’s controversial VED rate changes on new cars – which has had an inevitable knock-on effect on the used car market as well. Add in general consumer uncertainty and it’s no wonder used car sales fell so significantly: they’re now down 5.1 percent overall in 2017. 

“Although the market remains at an exceptionally high level, given the softening we’ve seen in registrations of new cars in more recent months,” said Hawes, “looking ahead it is vital that government secures the conditions that will maintain consumer and business confidence if we are to see both markets prosper.”

It’s not all bad news, though. “With demand easing over recent months, this could offer motorists the opportunity to get some great deals.”

Best-selling used cars 2017

SUVs are where it’s at with the new car market… and they, along with city cars, were the only type of model whose used car transactions went up in the last quarter. Diesel, too, is holding up: sales fell just 0.1 percent, compared to a surprise 8.9 percent fall in petrol car sales. 

• 25 brilliant used cars for £1000 or less

1.62 million secondhand diesel cars have been sold in 2017, compared to 2.29 million petrol cars. As for alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrids and EVs, sales rose 24.2 percent overall, with electric cars up 79.3 percent – but they still only account for 1.2 percent of the secondhand market overall.

Although the used car market has slowed overall, Britain’s love for the supermini shows no signs of declining, either. Of the almost 4 million used cars sold thus far in 2017, almost a third of them were superminis – and Britain’s favourite new supermini, the Ford Fiesta, is also its top secondhand car overall.

The rest of the top 10 best-selling used cars throws up a few surprises though, with Brits’ love of premium cars elbowing some former secondhand favourites down the rankings. As proven by the car in 10^th place…

10: Audi A3

Over 56,000 secondhand Audi A3s have been sold so far in 2017. Audi’s premium compact car is thus more popular than once-perennial top 10 used cars such as the Peugeot 208 and Ford Mondeo. But it’s still some way behind…

9: Mini

… The British-built Mini. We Brits love the reborn classic, with sales of over 71,500 secondhand Minis so far in 2017 taking it…

8: Volkswagen Polo

… Within spitting distance of the Volkswagen Polo, on 72,500. How long before the Polo is overtaken by the Mini?

7: Renault Clio

The Renault Clio remains a more popular secondhand supermini than the Volkswagen Polo, with around 76,000 being sold so far in 2017.

6: BMW 3 Series

Another premium brand in the top 10, over 98,000 used BMW 3 Series have been sold so far in 2017. It’s an enormously in-demand model, although it still has a little way to go before it breaks into the top five.

5: Volkswagen Golf

More than 122,000 used Volkswagen Golfs have been sold in the UK so far in 2017. How many of these have TDI engines, the figures don’t disclose…

4: Vauxhall Astra

The Vauxhall Astra is a more popular used car than the Volkswagen Golf: this will please Vauxhall, as the tables are reversed on the new car market.

3: Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall follows it up with the Corsa sitting third in the used car popularity stakes. Indeed, the little Vauxhall is far closer here to its arch-rival from Ford than it is in the new car tables – although this does perhaps suggest the Corsa can only fall down the secondhand car popularity stakes from here…

2: Ford Focus

In July, the Ford Focus was Britain’s most popular new car. It can’t quite manage to repeat this in the used car stakes, but sales of almost 170,000 thus far in 2017 mean it’s still finding plenty of fans. And it’s a family sibling that of course sits ahead of it in top spot…

1: Ford Fiesta

Yes, the Fiesta is Britain’s most popular used car, with 185,062 finding new homes thus far in 2017. Given the continued strength of its new car sales over the years, we can’t see this changing any time soon.

Best-selling used car colours 2017

As for top secondhand colours, as we’ll see, there’s a battle at the top of the charts between black and silver, with what was once Britain’s favourite used car colour, blue, relegated to third place. Silver has topped the charts for the past seven years, but is it holding onto this in 2017? Click on to find out…

10: Yellow

Yellow is a bold choice of colour but it seems Brits aren’t in the mood for being bold right now: used car transactions of yellow cars are dropping, with fewer than 24,000 sold thus far in 2017.

9: Brown

In contrast, sales of brown cars have remained consistent this year: they have pulled ahead of yellow in the popularity stakes and are just behind another retro hue making a comeback…

8: Beige

Yes, beige is the seventh most popular used car colour in Britain right now. Fashions really do always come around.

7: Green

Green is next up, selling four times as strongly as beige on the secondhand market. But the next-best colour is four times more popular again…

6: Red

Red was once a hit colour of the 1980s and, while its popularity has faded (rather like a once-red car that’s turned pink in the sun), it’s still found more than 418,000 secondhand buyers thus far in 2017.

5: White

White didn’t used to feature all that highly on the used car colour popularity chart, but the recent resurgence in white new car sales is now powering it up the rankings on the secondhand market. It’s closing in on another popular colour…

4: Grey

Almost half a million grey cars have been sold so far in 2017. White is catching it up but, for now, this sensible-shoes hue remains the fourth most popular used car colour in Britain.

3: Blue

Blue cars come in all shades, from doom blue to Hawaii blue. There are currently some beautiful blue colours on the market, which are finding favour with new car buyers, so we expect its rise up the used popularity rankings – and the clear advantage it has over grey – to only increase further.

2: Silver

Brits have loved silver cars more than any other for years. But not any more. While still far more popular than blue, around 14,000 fewer silver cars have been sold so far this year than the colour at the top of the charts. Which is…

1: Black

The biggest shock in the used car market has been the usurping of silver from the ranks of Britain’s favourite used car colour. Black is the new black, it seems: surely not reflecting the mood of the industry in general?

BMW has previewed the new 2018 Z4 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, with this radical Concept Z4: officially called a design study, BMW’s happy to admit it gives us a first indication to how next year’s series production model will look.

What is it? Why, “an all-out driving machine,” says BMW Group Design boss Adrian van Hooydonk, one that boats all the traditional roadster fundamentals: long wheelbase, low and stretched silhouette plus a stubby tail. The bonnet isn’t as exaggeratedly long as previous BMW roadsters though, sitting the driver (and the engine) closer to the centre of the car, thus making it look sportier and, presumably, feel more agile to drive.

This is BMW’s new design language at work, explains van Hooydonk: dynamic front end, clean-cut tail, striking body sides, minimalist lines and “subtle interplay between surfaces”. It’s been paired back a lot compared to, say, the busy-looking outgoing Z4, but it’s still all “enough to generate a sense of power and emotion,” he reckons.

There are still striking design elements though: the large rear domes are certainly one, both housing the rollover hoops and giving the rear end a standout look. Could they possibly make it to production? We’re not at all sure how, but who knows what BMW might be able to do with a trick folding soft-top…

BMW says the front end references the Z8: headlights are mounted relatively high, with the double kidney grille set down low. The grille doesn’t have plain old vertical bars, but fancy mesh, as per the classic BMW 328 Mille Miglia. And, get this, the traditional BMW double-headlight layout has been reinterpreted, with the dual half-circle lamps stacked on top of one another rather than sitting side-by-side. Is nothing sacred, traditionalists may right now be spluttering.

We can’t see a front apron quite as extreme as this making it through to production but, again, you never know. It feeds turbocharged petrol engines behind it – either a 2.0-litre four-cylinder or 3.0-litre inline six – and also provides cooling air that then filters back out through the side air breathers.

The body sides are clean and voluminous. Fluid, beautifully rendered surfaces create a striking array of gentle light and shade as your eyes move across them: it’s organic, and set off perfectly by low-set and sharply-edged lower sills. BMW doesn’t run out of ideas at the rear, either: this is all pumped muscularity, bulging wheelarches and a lovely set of pure-form OLED tail lamps.

The interior blends familiar bits from new models such as the 5 Series, a parallelogram-shaped iDrive infotainment screen and an open-form electronic instrument binnacle with a simple leather-trimmed hood. Its chiselled design theme is distinctive, and that deeply-dished steering wheel is lovely: we’re desperate for that to make it through to production (although we’ll likely be denied: how might an airbag work effectively within it?).

Note also the tiny lap timer display in the lower section of the steering wheel…

You might also have noticed that half the interior is black and the other half is a sort of browney orange. Yup, it’s on purpose: to create a “clearly defined area that warps around the driver like a capsule”, says BMW. Which then goes on to say something about it creating “a pure-of-purpose driving environment with a pronounced ‘cone of vision’, where the steering wheel as well as the surrounding black surfaces appear to be surging forward”. Quite.

What next for the new BMW Z4?

BMW is co-developing the new Z4 with Toyota; the latter will use the same scaleable architecture to revive the Supra. But unlike that other Toyota sports car joint venture, the GT86-Subaru BRZ project, there’ll be more differentiation here. Not least, the fact BMW’s Z4 sticks with an open-top while the Supra will be a hard-top coupe.

Both will be rear-wheel drive, and the Supra will use a Toyota V6, while the BMW will boast all-Munich engines. There could even be a range-topper producing up to 450hp: yes, that’s exactly what the 3.0-litre straight-six produces in the M3 Competition Pack.

We can certainly expect to see the Z4 next year, with production likely to be well underway by the autumn. As for the Supra, time will tell. Most of the spy shots up to now have been of the Bimmer, suggesting it may be the one that’s delivered first. Surely the very fact we’re getting a new Supra at all means the wait will be worth it?

A report released this morning has suggested that bendy buses should be returned to London’s roads in a bid to reduce congestion and encourage drivers to swap their cars for the bus.

Banning the articulated buses was a flagship policy for former London mayor Boris Johnson, who described them as “cumbersome machines” which were too big for the city.

The influential London Assembly Transport Committee reports that – despite two billion journeys made on London buses every year – numbers dropped by six percent in 2016/17 compared to 2014/15. It says there could be a number of reasons for the decline in popularity of the bus – including improved tube services and a “dramatic” rise in the number of private hire vehicles, such as Ubers. The biggest reason, the committee suggests, is a rise in congestion on London’s roads, which is leading to longer waiting times for buses.

Looking at ways to encourage the use of buses in the capital, the committee says more express routes are needed. With limited stops, these express routes allow faster journeys between major centres. It adds that articulated buses, also known as bendy buses, could be the most appropriate for these routes.

“Articulated buses may be appropriate for use on newly designed routes and offer passenger benefits, including more space, faster journeys, and enhanced accessibility for disabled passengers,” says the report.

Other ways to encourage bus use could include introducing wifi and air-conditioning on more buses, and making the bus network easier to understand.

Deputy chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee Caroline Pidgeon said: “There’s a huge demand for more buses in outer London – but at the same time, we need to make bus travel more attractive to passengers. Express buses, orbital routes and wifi will help to give buses a much needed boost.

“Bendy buses are controversial – but in outer London they may be the solution to more capacity on routes that feed stations. They also increase accessibility, with more space for wheelchairs.”

The JD Power Dependability Study measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of cars after 12-36 months of ownership. A total of 177 problems are analysed across eight categories: vehicle exterior; driving experience; features/controls/displays; audio/communication/entertainment/navigation; seats; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; interior; and engine and transmission.

The results reveal the most dependable cars across six segments, with JD Power listing the top three for each group. Read on to discover the most reliable new cars you can buy.

City car, winner: Peugeot 108

Shocked to find a Peugeot sitting at the top of the city car category? This is a tough segment, so Peugeot will see this as a good result. The 108 shares its platform with the Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo, with prices starting from £8,995 for a three-door model.

City car, second: Hyundai i10

The Hyundai i10 is arguably the best value city car you can buy, with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and a great specification, especially on the Premium and Premium SE models. Speaking about the survey overall, Mark Lendrich, head of research at JD Power Europe, said: “Minor issues like foggy windows, noisy brakes or navigation systems that are difficult to use can be very frustrating for owners and can negatively affect brand loyalty.”

City car, third: Kia Picanto and Volkswagen Up

Mark Lendrich went on to say: “These design problems aren’t easy to fix at a service appointment and, if the owner has to live with these problems for the duration of time they have the vehicle, they’re less likely to purchase the same brand in the future.” The Kia Picanto and Volkswagen Up are tied for third place.

Compact car, winner: Volvo V40

Moving on to the compact car segment where we find the Volvo V40 taking a seat at the top of the class. The V40 has been on sale since 2012 and was, at the time of its launch, the safest car in the world.

Compact car, second: Mazda3

The Mazda3 finishes second in a highly competitive segment, ahead of the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and Ford Focus. According to JD Power, owners of premium cars tend to stay loyal to the brand, but place a higher importance on problem-free ownership.

Compact car, third: Toyota Auris

The Toyota Auris might not be the most exciting car in the segment, but this result proves that it’s likely to be one of the most reliable. It also offers the option of a fuel-efficient hybrid, with up to 80.7mpg possible on a combined cycle.

Large and luxury, winner: Jaguar XF

Perhaps more than in any other segment, the right badge is everything in the large and luxury segment. And if you’re paying for the privilege of the right image, it’s only right that you demand some reliability. This is a tremendous result for Jaguar, with the XF finishing ahead of the three German rivals.

Large and luxury, second: Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The JD Power study is based on vehicles registered from February 2014 through April 2016, which means this result is based on the previous generation E-Class. The latest model (pictured), is arguably the best executive car in the world…

Large and luxury, third: BMW 5 Series

Although BMW might have something to say about that. Once again, the result will be based on the previous generation 5 Series, launched in 2010. The new model is available from £36,000, although the majority of models cost over £40,000.

Midsize car, winner: Vauxhall Insignia

To those who dismiss Vauxhall as a mere also-ran in the industry, we bring news that might just change your opinion: the griffin has not one but two class winners. We start with the previous generation Insignia, which scoops the award in the midsize car segment. We always felt that ubiquity was its biggest crime. This result suggests the old model will make a terrific secondhand buy.

Midsize car, second: Volkswagen Passat

Finishing just behind the Insignia is the Volkswagen Passat, which arrived in 2014. Thanks to its understated but classy styling and a quality interior, the Passat is a near match for the premium rivals in the segment, with the bonus of a GTE petrol-electric option.

Midsize car, third: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a consistent best-seller, with more than 30,000 units registered in 2017. This makes it the most popular four-door saloon in the UK, a fact demonstrated by the sheer number you’ll see on the outside lane of the M4 corridor.

Small car, winner: Skoda Fabia

The Skoda Fabia manages to upstage its Volkswagen Polo sibling by being named the most reliable small car in the JD Power study. Fabia prices start from £11,295, which is about £700 cheaper than the entry-level Polo. That said, some healthy discounts are available on the outgoing Polo, with a new model waiting in the wings.

Small car, second: Suzuki Swift

Once again we have to say that this result is based on a previous model, with the Suzuki Swift replaced by a 2017 version. We’re big fans of the Swift, which is high on spec, great to drive and offers tremendous value for money.

Small car, third: Hyundai i20

The Hyundai i20 finishes third in the small car category, which suggests you might not require the five-year warranty. Hyundai is offering sizeable discounts across the range, including £1,610 off the price of an i20 S, which takes it down to £9,995.

Small MPV, winner: Vauxhall Meriva

Yes, people still buy compact MPVs, but you might be surprised to discover that the Vauxhall Meriva is the most reliable of the lot. The Meriva features clever rear-hinged back doors and a flexible seating arrangement. Prices start from £14,270.

Small MPV, second: Ford B-Max

The Ford B-Max offers an alternative to the rear-hinged set-up of the Meriva with a pair of sliding rear doors. This makes it easy to access the back and to fit child seats. Prices start from £16,145, although the Zetec Navigator is available for a promotional price of £14,945.

Small MPV, third: Honda Jazz

The Honda Jazz is a segment-busting supermini with designs on the compact MPV sector. Over the years it has become a paragon of reliability, often topping tables such as this. An updated Jazz will be unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, with a facelifted exterior and a new 1.5-litre petrol engine.

Best brand: Kia and Volvo

JD Power has also revealed the most dependable brands, based on the responses of more than 12,000 owners of new cars. The results were analysed to produce a score based on the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100).

Kia and Volvo finished joint top with 83 PP100, ahead of Skoda with 89 PP100 and Suzuki on 92 PP100. At the other end, BMW finished bottom on 198 PP100, just behind Audi with 187 PP100.