M of new cars
From the new McLaren 12C Spider to the next-generation MINI hatchback, here are the best new cars beginning with M
Maserati GranCabrio MC On sale: Early 2013Price: From £115,000 (est.)
A drop in weight, tweaked suspension and a power boost make this the fastest drop-top Maserati you can buy. The GranCabrio MC gets a 454bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine as well as a new carbon fibre bodykit, including a big rear wing and carbon diffuser.
Maserati Levante On sale: Late 2014Price: £70,000 (est.)
Levante is the production name for Maserati’s first SUV, which debuted as the Kubang Concept at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The name of the luxury SUV is derived from Via Emilia Levante – the street where the Maserati brothers founded the company in 1914. It’s based on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and will be produced in North America. But the engine will be an Italian-built Ferrari/Maserati V8, mated to an eight-speed transmission – so you can bet this’ll be one of the best-sounding SUVs on sale. Maserati says the Levante will offer “top-drawer performance” in a car that’s “capable of getting its passengers through all types of climates”.
Maserati Quattroporte On sale: Mid-2013Price: From £90,000 (est.)
Maserati sold 6,159 cars in 2011, but plans to sell 50,000 a year by 2015 – and key to this is a new Quattroporte. It’ll debut at January’s Detroit Motor Show with “a completely new style, offering outstanding driving emotions and high-level quality.”
Mazda 3 On sale: Late 2013Price: From £16,500 (est.)
We've been sent a set of leaked images, which show the new Mazda 3 is set to be the most stylish car in its class. It’ll be far more economical than the current car, too, thanks to the company’s SkyActiv programme of saving weight and boosting efficiency.
Mazda 6 Saloon and Tourer On sale: January 2013Price: From £19,595
As our first drive of the Mazda 6 confirms, the car is lighter, larger and more economical than ever thanks to Mazda’s innovative ‘SkyActiv’ technology. There’s no hatchback now, though, with the line-up consisting purely of a saloon and Tourer estate. Inside, there’s more room in the front and rear, while the estate offers 1,632 litres of luggage capacity with its seats folded. A 5.8-inch touchscreen features among a host of new technology, which also includes ‘i-Eloop’ regenerative braking and stop-start, plus an emergency braking system and radar cruise control. The new engine range features a 2.0-litre petrol, with 143bhp and 163bhp, plus a 2.2-litre diesel offered with 173bhp and 148bhp. The latter delivers fuel economy of 72.4mpg and emits 104g/km of CO2.
Mazda MX-5 On sale: Late 2012Price: From £16,000
The MX-5 has been given a nip and tuck with a larger, more aggressive grille and an improved interior. The 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engine line-up is unchanged, but the driving experience is claimed to be better than ever, thanks to some suspension tweaks.
McLaren 12C Spider On sale: Early 2013Price: £195,500
The second model in the McLaren range, the 12C Spider aims to take on the Ferrari 458 Spider with a top speed of 204mph. It’s powered by the same 616bhp 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 that’s used in the coupe version, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It also shares the coupe’s 3.1-second 0-62mph time, but the sprint to 124mph takes two-tenths longer. The retractable hard-top adds only 40kg to the Spider’s weight, and it takes just 17 seconds to lower it, at speeds up to 18mph. A price tag of £195,500 is likely for the car.
McLaren P1 On sale: Late 2013Price: £700,000 (est.)
The battle on the track is spilling over into showrooms with the P1 – McLaren’s challenger to the Ferrari Enzo replacement. The P1 is said to use a 700bhp version of the MP4-12C’s twin-turbo V8, boosted by an electric KERS system, to give over “592bhp per tonne”. McLaren says the car is focused on dynamics, not top speed. It’s dripping in carbon, and active aerodynamics include an extendable rear wing. The plan is to launch the P1 just as the brand celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Mercedes A45 AMG On sale: Late 2012Price: £35,000 (est.)
The hot A-Class is designed to take on the Audi RS3 and new BMW M135i. Its 2.0-litre turbo makes 321bhp, giving it the most bhp per litre of any four-cylinder in the world and helping it go from 0-62mph in five seconds. There’s also an upgraded chassis and all-wheel drive.
Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive On sale: 2014Price: From £30,000 (est.)
This is the second piece in Mercedes’ electric car puzzle, after the SLS Electric Drive. The electric B-Class develops 134bhp and 310Nm of torque, while a full charge of its lithium-ion battery – from a household plug or quick charger – delivers a range of 124 miles.
Mercedes CLA On sale: Late 2013Price: From £21,000 (est.)
The stunning four-door CLA coupe will become the third member of Mercedes’ new small car family next year. It’s built on the same MFA platform as the new A and B-Class, and will launch at the Detroit Motor Show in January. Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche confirmed the name at the recent Paris Motor Show, and we expect the newcomer to feature a similar engine line-up to the A-Class. An AMG version is likely – based on the A45 AMG hot hatch to be launched at March’s Geneva Motor Show – as is a Shooting Brake model like the larger CLS.
Mercedes S-Class On sale: Mid-2013Price: From £65,000 (est.)
The Aesthetics S sculpture at the recent Paris Motor Show gave a glimpse of the new S-Class’s looks, and our spies have caught the limo on the road. It’ll take in-car tech to a new level, and move further upmarket to fill the gap left by Mercedes’ defunct Maybach brand.
Mercedes SLS AMG Black On sale: Early 2013Price: From £325,000 (est.)
Mercedes’ Black Series range turns up the heat on already wild AMG models – so the new SLS Black is set to be very special. It’s due to debut at January’s Detroit Motor Show, and is likely to mix outrageous looks with a 6.2-litre V8 tuned to around 650bhp. That should mean 200mph-plus flat-out.
Mercedes SLS Electric Drive On sale: Summer 2013Price: From £330k (est)
Giving the Mercedes SLS AMG 167bhp more power (at 730bhp) is a real achievement – especially as this one is all-electric. The SLS Electric Drive does 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and hits 155mph, all with zero emissions. It claims a 155-mile range, and charges in 20 hours from a standard socket; a fast charger cuts this to three hours.
MINI JCW GP On sale: NovemberPrice: £28,790
Aside from the World Rally car, this is the most extreme MINI money can buy. The GP has the same 1.6-litre turbo as the JCW, but with 7bhp more power, at 215bhp. MINI has also ditched the rear seats, saving 55kg. The result is 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 150mph. But the MINI GP’s real appeal is its adjustable threaded suspension – which allows the car to be lowered by up to 20mm. Plus, bespoke Pirelli tyres and an upgraded sports braking system combine to ensure the newcomer should handle brilliantly on road and track. All GPs also get Thunder Grey paint, special decals and unique alloys. Just 200 cars are coming to the UK, each costing £6,335 more than the standard JCW hatch.
MINI Hatchback On sale: Late 2013Price: From £12,000 (est.)
The new MINI will be the most radical evolution yet. It’s based on a new front-wheel-drive platform, shared with BMW, while a range of three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines will improve efficiency. Quicker models will stick with turbocharged four-cylinder engines.
MINI Paceman On sale: Spring 2013Price: From £18,940
MINI’s ditched the rear doors on the Countryman to create the Paceman coupe SUV. Inside are four individual seats, while the electric window switches are moved from the dash to the doors. The Paceman won’t be sold in anything slower than Cooper spec, and should be sportier to drive than the Countryman.
Mitsubishi Mirage On sale: April 2013Price: From £8,000 (est.)
The new Mitsubishi Mirage supermini is already on sale in Japan, and is due to arrive in UK dealers in April. This Nissan Micra rival uses Mitsubishi’s new ‘global small’ platform and will be available with a choice of two three-cylinder petrol engines, both emitting less than 100g/km of CO2.
Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid On sale: Late 2013Price: From £30,000 (est.)
The world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV mates a four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine to a 79bhp electric motor. It gives the Mitsubishi Outlander a 34-mile electric-only range, a total range of 540 miles and 143mpg economy. A full battery charge will take four-and-a-half hours via a household socket, although a fast charger provides 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes.
