Once you’ve read these tips, check out our car chooser – it’s a great way of narrowing down your options with just a few clicks.

Budget

Deciding your budget is the first thing you should do – after all, your choice of car will be limited to what you can afford. This also extends to your monthly outgoings – fuel, tax and insurance costs could end up becoming a nasty surprise if you’re not mindful of the purse strings.

Don’t worry, however, because carwow’s car chooser takes all the stress and uncertainty out of the process. You simply enter the price range you’d like to look at and the car chooser automatically shows suitable cars, including any other requirements you’ve specified. You might be pleasantly surprised to see some more expensive cars appear in your price range thanks to the fantastic discounts on offer from carwow’s network of dealerships.

And remember – the majority of new cars are bought on finance, so work out how much you can afford each month too, and don’t discount it as a method of buying your next car.

Usage

The next thing you’re going to have to consider is what you’re going to use the car for. If you live in a city centre and use your car solely for shopping and commuting, you need to take into account the amount of parking space you’re likely to have – you may want something relatively small. Alternatively, if you live in the countryside, you need to think about how bad conditions get in winter and whether you’ll need a car that can handle adverse weather – perhaps you’ll want a 4×4.

Bodystyle

Next, consider what you regularly carry and what styles of car you like. If you often do the school run, you’ll need to plan space for your kids but, if your kids are especially sociable, they might bring friends home meaning you should consider buying a car with extra space – perhaps a seven-seater.

If you’re a dog owner, you’ll need to think about how much space your furry friend needs in the boot and whether they’ll be able to jump up into it. Equally, if you have elderly relatives or very small children, an SUV can be useful because the extra height makes entry into the cabin easier.

Speed

If you’re buying a car as a couple, this is one area you might not agree on. You need to think about how fast you want your car to be. As a general rule – the faster a car is, the less efficient it is. If you’ve one eye on your monthly outgoings, you might want to think about a slower car that’s more fuel efficient.

If you enjoy the sensation of speed or acceleration, regularly spend time on the motorway, or enjoy bragging to your mates, you’ll want a faster one. With more speed comes greater cost – at the pumps, on your insurance and in maintenance – but, for some buyers, a fast car can make them feel special every time they get behind the wheel.

Fuel

After thinking about the kind of acceleration you’d like from a car, you also need to consider what fuel type is most appropriate to your requirements. For city dwellers, we’d recommend avoiding the extra cost of a diesel and get the cheaper petrol option – you save money on purchase price and, for short journeys, the difference in fuel cost will be minimal.

Many think they should buy a diesel to get the best economy and, to a certain extent, this is true. In many cases, however, you have to cover vast milages annually to make back the extra cost of the car and the fuel over a petrol version. Only those who regularly spend time on the motorway or towing should consider a diesel.

Now go choose one!

Visit our car chooser, select how many seats you need, what you’ll use it for, how fast and how efficient you’d like it to be then let our system do all the legwork for you. You can view your chosen car’s review or head straight over to our new-car deals page.

Although Android Auto previously supported voice commands, the full capabilities of Google Assistant will be added to the mix. Google will roll out Assistant to Android Auto this week in the U.S.

Drivers can use voice commands to activate Google Maps, Waze, Spotify, Google Play Music, WhatsApp, or other features you’d use on your smartphone when not driving. In the near future, drivers will be able to reserve a parking spot with SpotHero or order a drink from Starbucks on the road.

Right now, drivers are expected to pair their phones to their cars to activate Assistant, but that might not be the case forever. Google is working with automakers on integrating the feature directly into cars without the need for a phone.

Nowadays, even the most basic vehicles on the market offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Android Auto is available from more than 40 car brands and 400 different models with more on the way.

BMW, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz offer a feature that allows drivers to use Google Assistant on their phones to remotely lock the doors, adjust the climate, and control other functions on their vehicles. This capability will soon become available on vehicles from Kia and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Source: Google

Speaking with Autocar, Marc Lichte indicated that Audi may produce a rival to the BMW 8 Series. However, low demand could pose problems for green-lighting such a car. “I love the shape of a two-door coupé, but it is also true that the [sales] volumes [for them] are much lower than for four-doors,” he said. “In the future, who knows? We have many ideas in this direction.”

The Prologue concept influenced the design of the new Audi A7. But it was also thought to serve as the inspiration for a possible A9 flagship coupe. Incidentally, one of Lichte’s first projects at Audi was the Prologue.

The non-exclusive partnerships mark the first deals for the young Silicon Valley company and show how some automakers have chosen to partner with technology companies with more experience in artificial intelligence, deep learning and robotics in order to save time and money bringing self-driving cars to market.

Aurora was founded in 2016 by robotics expert Drew Bagnell, Chris Urmson, who came from Alphabet Inc.’s Google, and Sterling Anderson, who formerly worked at Tesla Inc.

Aurora and Volkswagen said they had been working together over the past six months to integrate Aurora’s sensors, hardware and software into VW’s electric vehicles to develop self-driving ride services in cities.

In a statement, Volkswagen said the self-driving technology can be integrated over time across the automaker’s brands and in different product categories, whether self-driving pods, shuttles, delivery vans or self-driving trucks.

For Hyundai, Aurora’s technology will be incorporated into custom-developed models and tested in markets including China. Hyundai said the first model to be used in testing will be its latest generation fuel-cell vehicle, debuting at the CES technology conference in Las Vegas next week.

Under the alliance, Hyundai plans to commercialize level 4 autonomous vehicles — which can operate without human input or oversight under select conditions — in unidentified “pilot smart cities” by 2021.

This is the first announcement on a self-driving technology partnership by the South Korean carmaker, which has traditionally shunned tie-ups in favor of developing technology in-house. The strategy has raised investor concerns that it may be left behind in the race for self-driving and electric cars.

A company spokeswoman said Hyundai has “various collaborations” under way in self-driving technology and would continue to pursue cooperation.

Within the self-driving car space, Waymo is offering something similar. The tech company has been working with Fiat Chrysler since 2016 to outfit its Chrysler Pacifica minivans with autonomous technology. Waymo plans to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service early next year in Phoenix, Arizona.

Urmson said that while each carmaker partnership requires close collaboration to integrate the self-driving system, the technology is “quite transferable” between vehicle models and manufacturers.

Once you’ve driven on winterlanding tires, you won’t feel the need to stayclose to home and you won’t go back to an all-season tire in the winter ever again. Tire Rack calls it the “Ah-Ha Moment.” It’s feeling the traction and control, the confidence. The difference.

We’ll let Tire Rack and these pucks tell the story.

Known for revolutionizing tire buying since 1979, their Tire Decision Guide first takes Tire Rack’s decades of tire experience, first-hand testing of hundreds of tires in all weather conditions, and a deep understanding of what makes winter tires do what they do. Then combines it all with “big data” — feedback they’ve collected based on billions of user-driven miles — and drills down to one top tire recommendation personalized just for you with up to two additional options for consideration.

Behind the scenes, there’s a lot of programming and algorithms to drive the results, but up front it’s a few questions you’ll answer about your vehicle and how/where you drive it. Easy. Exact. Done.

Additionally, you can browse through Tire Rack’s consumer reviews to see what drivers just like you have to say about their tires. These unbiased reviews help to further validate your Decision Guide results.

About now you’re thinking what these dedicated winter tires will cost you. Consider this. Over the course of six years of vehicle ownership, you’ll likely need to replace your tires after year three. That’s two sets of tires in six years. Tire Rack recommends that drivers who will need the added traction from winter tires for some of the year purchase them the first year. Your three-season tires are in storage while your winter tires are on the road. The expense is the same. And you’re driving on tires optimized for the season you’re in. Here’s how this plays out:

Think about a Winter Tire & Wheel Package to make the install/un-install every winter/spring easier. Your winter tires are mounted on their own set of wheels that you can bolt on yourself. They’re ready when you are and you’re not waiting in line with everyone else the day before Thanksgiving to get your winter tires installed.

Drivers who want to know more can watch Tire Rack’s test results videos and read the full test reports. In this report, for example, the Tire Rack test team hit the local hockey rink once again to experience the glare ice traction of Studless Ice & Snow tires for winter and to learn which tire is best when winter weather is at its worst.

Mercedes-Benz Vans boss Volker Mornhinweg said pickups are moving upmarket, just like SUVs have done. “SUVs are elegant lifestyle products with a high-quality finish to them. Not every customer takes them into the wilderness anymore. We believe pickups could go in a similar direction,” he told Automotive News Europe.

Until now, Daimler’s vans division has been overwhelmingly dependent on Europe, with 70 percent of its 360,000-unit volume coming from the region last year. With the X class, Daimler is targeting a diverse customer group from farmers in South America, building contractors in Australia, families in Brazil, and trend-conscious individuals in Europe and South Africa.

The pickup aims to tap into surging demand for vehicles capable of transporting one-ton payloads and towing an additional 3.5 tons. Mercedes forecasts volumes for this type of truck will grow by nearly half to 3 million vehicles worldwide in the next 10 years.

The X class will go on sale in Europe in November, in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand early next year and in Argentina and Brazil in 2019. For now, Mercedes says it has no plans to sell the X class in the U.S. where demand is mainly for full-size pickups.

French market researchers Inovev forecast annual X class sales to be 50,000 a year with 20,000 sold in Europe, 20,000 in South America and 10,000 in South Africa.

‘Several challenges’

In a research note, JATO Dynamics said the X class is the first attempt to prove that the premium touch can work in a pickup. It said the model will face “several challenges” in Europe where customers consider pickups to be work vehicles and prefer smaller cars.

As part of Daimler’s industrial cooperation with Renault-Nissan, the X class uses the same platform as the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan with a conventional ladder-type frame. This reinforces the long steel support on each side to give the truck its robust construction over the unibody format used by most automobiles.

To better offset lower levels of comfort and handling in these kind of trucks, Mercedes introduced more complex and expensive features typically found in passenger cars such as a double-wishbone suspension for the front wheels. Instead of the usual leaf springs and drum brakes on the load-bearing rear axle, the X class was given coil springs and brake discs to give the vehicle a better ride performance and shorter braking distances on paved surfaces.

Fast facts

Engines: Two Nissan four-cylinder, 2.3-liter diesels with 163 hp or 190 hp. A high-torque Mercedes 255-hp 3.0-liter V-6 diesel will be released mid-2018.

Safety equipment: Active brake and lane keeping assistance systems, along with cruise control and trailer stability assistance.

Personalization: Customers who don’t like an open flatbed can order an aluminum roll cover or stainless steel Style Bars, or a removable hardtop canopy that gives the pickup a more SUV-like silhouette.

Base price: 37,294 euros (Germany)

Where built: Barcelona, Spain (for Europe); Cordoba, Argentina (for South America)

Main rivals: VW Amarok, Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara

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Tesla has begin mass diliveries the Model 3 for global markets with. It should land here at around $50,000.

So, what’s it like to drive? We’ll get to that in a minute, but, first, let’s look at some of the innovations packed in here.

Releasing just another car would be a bit of a cop out, so it’s worth pointing out some of the interesting features that will make the Model 3 unique.

Getting in and out of the car will no longer happen with a key, or even a regular ‘fob’. The driver can open the door using their phone (over Bluetooth or GSM) and if they don’t have their phone handy, or if the battery is flat, they open it using an RFID card.

Adjusting the mirrors or steering wheel happens electronically, as you’d expect. To save space on the doors and steering column, two joysticks on the steering wheel serve as multipurpose controllers and are activated using the central 15-inch colour touchscreen.

When activating the steering controls, for example, the left-hand joystick controls telescopic adjustments, while the right joystick controls tilt adjustments. Likewise, the window mirrors are adjusted using the left joystick for a left mirror and right joystick for the right mirror.

Unlike the Model S and X, the doors are opened using a lever that’s pushed at one end and pops out at the other end — much like the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Interior

Inside the cabin, Tesla has used coarse-grain wood along the top of the dashboard and integrated air vents between the wood panelling and dashboard. The rest of the storage space has been cleverly hidden, with a larger area at the front with two USB outlets, a central storage cubby and a glove box.

Climate controls are adjusted via the central screen, but also in a first, direction and air blower location are adjusted using the touchscreen as opposed to manual adjustment.

Rear seat passengers get their own air vents, plus two USB charging points. Rear leg room is good, but a little cramped. Thankfully with the Model 3, consideration has been put into toe room, with ample room to slide feet under the seat.

The rear seats fold flat in a 60/40 split folding fashion with a centre armrest. And, they include two child seat anchor points. Both front and rear doors are released using a button on the door, as opposed to a conventional handle.

New Performance Pack option for VW’s hot hatch gets big brakes and more speed. For the sum of £2,300 (on top of the ‘base’ hatch’s £32,710), you can amp up your Volkswagen Golf R to 166mph.

Yes folks, it’s time for the Performance Pack option for Volkswagen’s venerable Golf R hot hatch. For that £2,300 outlay, not only does VW remove the 155mph top speed limiter to allow that 166mph top speed (168mph if you buy the more expensive estate), you also get better brakes and bigger wheels.

Those brakes are dubbed ‘R-Performance’, and shave 2kg from the braking system’s overall weight. We’re told these ‘built pin discs’ with their aluminium brake pots and cast steel friction ring means that under ‘stress’, the Golf R’s braking is more durable. Perfect, VW claims, for when you hit the track.

Elsewhere, the 18in standard-fit ‘Cadiz’ alloys are shelved in favour of 19in ‘Spielberg’ alloys. If you buy the hatch, you even get an extra rear spoiler that adds a not-insignificant 20kg of downforce.

So, harder, more durable brakes, new wheels, more speed. All nice and lovely.

If you want more schportiness, there is something else you can option on your hatch (not for the wagon, sadly) R: a titanium sports exhaust system. This is 7kg less than a regular R’s exhaust, arriving via the medium of exhaust specialist Akrapovic, and features round rear pipes and valve tech for “an incomparable exhaust sound”. Yours for £2,975.

You’ll note there is no power increase, but as standard the Golf R hatch (equipped with a DSG ‘box) produces 306bhp from a 2.0-litre turbo petrol, and will go from 0-62mph in 4.6s. Probably more, as VW can be quite conservative on those figures…