Korean manufacturers Hyundai and Kia are looking to different strategies in the future whilst continuing to share common components and technology.

Similarity between models such as the Kia Venga and Hyundai ix20 have led both manufacturers to plan for differing futures.

Kia will adopt a profile that is seen as dynamic and sporty, whilst Hyundai will look to offer a more comfort orientated experience.

Skoda UK is looking to increase it’s sales in the UK from the 41000 units it sold in 2010 as part of Skoda’s worldwide aim to increase global sales to 1.5 million units by 2018.

To help achieve this Skoda is looking at the UK market and plans to launch three new models in 2012. This will be a city car based on the Volkswagen UP, a family hatchback similar in size the a Vauxhall Astra or Ford Focus and a new version of the Octavia.

Mitsubishi plans for increasing sales are based around new more efficient models which offer hybrid or electric power.

For many year sales of L200 pick-up and Shogun 4×4 models have been strong but now Mitsubishi wants to expand it’s range to cover smaller more efficient models to help sales grow from the current level of around 19000 units to over 30000 units.

To help with the sales push Mitsubishiplan to launch it Concept Global Car which will have a starting price of less than £8500 and emissions of 95g/km whilst a fully electric version will also be available.

Mitsubishi also plans to expand the models available that use the platform with there being a strong possibility of a Nissan Juke rival.

By 2015 Mitsubishi aims to have eight models available that will be either hybrid or fully electric with the aim that by 2020 20% of all models sold will be either hybrid or electric.

Lease4Less have a superb 2 year offer available on the Citroen DS3 1.6HDI Black.

These stylish super mini’s come with a high level of standard equipment including 17″ Belone white diamond tipped alloy wheel which combine well with the standard sports suspension.

In addition you get air conditioning, privacy glass and chrome door mirrors.

Kia has chosen the Geneva motorshow to unveil the new version of the Rio, this is the latest model in Kia’s range to of been designed by Peter Schreyer who’s earlier designs include the original Audi TT.

Available in both 3 and 5 doors the Rio will go on sale later this year to challenge models such as the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa.

When the Rio goes on sale four engines will be available, two petrol models and two diesel ones with the new 1.1 litre diesel grabbing the headlines.

The three cylinder engine will produce 68bhp whilst offering 88mpg and emitting only 85g/km.

Jeep now under the ownership of Fiat plan to use the Italian companies expertise in small cars by introducing one of it’s own to take on rivals such as the Mini and Audi A1.

Whilst models will stay true to the design style of Jeep there will be an element of personalisation that owners can introduce, whilst both two and four wheel drive models will be available.

Jeep plans to introduce their new model in 2013 with prices starting from around £14000 – £15000.

Rolls Royce plan to use their electric Phantom 102EX concept car to trial the use of induction as a method for charging an electric car.

The plan to use induction would mean there is no need to use conventional electric charging points. Instead drivers would drive their cars over an inductor which would enable the car to be charged automatically.

The final models of the current Ford Focus will be the high specification Sport versions which are available with either a 1.6 petrol or a 1.6TDCI diesel.

Both these models are availble to lease through Lease4Less with prices starting from an amazing £179.99 + VAT for the 1.6TDCI model.

The Sport which provides are the equipment you could want including satelite navigation, bluetooth, alloys and a sport body kit will average approximately 64MPG for the diesel model.

Lease4Less have an amazing offer on the Nissan Micra supermini, available with five doors and an ultra efficient petrol engine these superb small cars can be leased from only £99.99 + VAT per month on an amazing two year deal.

Chevrolet are to launch the new Hatchback version of the Chevrolet Cruze at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

Whilst final details have not yet been confirmed expect similar specification to the saloon model whilst the hatchback will get 60/40 split rear seats.

The introduction of the hatchback also means the launch of a new range of Euro V compliant engines which will in time also find their way into the saloon models.

The Geneva Motor Show has seen the unveiling of Fords concept B-Max which is said to near identical to the model which will hit the showrroms in early 2012.

Deisgned as a replacment for the Fusion the B-Max will have pillarless rear doors making for a large entrance to the rear.

Prices are expected to start at around £13000 making it similar to current Fusion prices.

As the name suggests the B-Max is smaller than the C-Max and will take on rivals such as the Vauxhall Meriva.

Toyota is celebrating the 10th birthday of its Prius hybrid with a new limited edition model.

Priced from £26,150, the 10th Anniversary Prius is £3190 more expensive than the range-topping T Spirit car.

The car has new front, rear and sideskirts for a more ’street-sharp’ look, dark 17-inch alloys, tinted windows and black leather upholstery embossed with a 10th Anniversary logo.

The car is available in black or white and is otherwise fitted with the same equipment as a T Spirit model, with satellite-navigation, parking monitor, Bluetooth, park-assist system, cruise control, keyless entry and start up, automatic wipers and a head-up instrument display.

Fuel consumption and emissions are also unchanged, which means an average of 70.6mpg and CO2 output of just 92g/km.

Renault’s updated and improved Laguna is now on sale, with prices starting at £17,795 – a reduction of £1855 on the previous entry-level model.

The refreshed hatchback and estate gets new, more aggressive styling and more efficient engines. The 110bhp diesel gets a place in the lowest company car tax band thanks to emissions of just 120g/km.

The range has been simplified and is now available in three trims, and with a choice of one petrol or four diesel engines.

Expression Entry-level Expression models include a full set of airbags, electric windows, CD stereo with auxiliary input, Bluetooth, alloys, air-conditioning and stability control.

Dynamique TomTom Dynamique TomTom adds automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, electrically heated and folding door mirrors, keyless entry, rear parking sensors and a TomTom Live satellite-navigation system.

GT Line TomTom Top of the range is the GT Line TomTom, which gets 18-inch alloys, a Bose sound system, leather and Alcantara upholstery, electric front seats and, on the 180bhp diesel, a four-wheel-steering system.

The new Volkswagen Passat family car will cost from £18,741 for the saloon and £19,744 for the estate.

The car – which was unveiled at last month’s Paris Motor Show – features a new look, as well as upgraded engines and gearboxes, and a host of new technology.

The prices represent a rise of between £700 and £800 over the starting prices of the outgoing model. The range tops out with the 2.0 TDI 170 Sport with a semi-automatic DSG gearbox which costs £25,623 and £26,955 in the saloon and estate, respectively.

In all, there will be three trim levels – S, SE and Sport – and every model will have six airbags, ABS, stability control and anti-whiplash head restraints.

Compared to the old model, entry-level S trim gains an iPod interface and a multi-function steering wheel, while SE trim has a digital radio, Bluetooth and a driver fatigue-detection system. Range-topping Sport models have a touch-screen sat-nav system.

The engine range includes 1.6-, 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrol units, while all the TDI diesel-engined models carry the ‘Bluemotion Technology’ eco badge and are fitted with engine stop-start system and battery regeneration as standard.

As a result, the entry-level 1.6-litre TDI model averages 65.7mpg and emits 114g/km of CO2. By contrast, the forthcoming new Bluemotion model will average 68.8mpg and have emissions of 109g/km.

Saab are planning to enable buyers to watch their cars being built online – and then collect them from the company’s Trollhattan factory in Sweden.

Saab wants to put more focus on the customer experience now it is no longer owned by General Motors (GM), and plans to start installing cameras on the production line from next year.

Jaguar Land Rover has announced it’s going back on plans to close one of its UK factories – saving thousands of UK jobs.

The manufacturer had been deciding whether to close the Castle Bromwich, Solihull or Halewood site, but now says a deal with unions means all its UK factories will remain open.

The deal gives workers a 5% pay rise in November and at least 3% more 12 months later.

The company has also started recruiting 1500 new workers to build the Evoque at Halewood, but the union deal means thousands more are secure.

Trade unions are unanimously recommending the deal to their members, which should make its acceptance a formality.

The new Kia Sportage is now available to lease from only £214.99+VAT for the 1.7 CRDi 1 model. The new Sportage has fresh sporty looks combined with a practical and stylish interior. Competitive pricing and low running cost plus Kia’s seven year warranty make the Sportage an excellent ownership proposition.

Saab is working on improvements for its new 9-5 saloon.

The instrument panel and other cabin parts of the new 9-5 will be upgraded by the summer to compete more closely with rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Top-to-bottom reassessment The improvement in the quality of parts is included in a top-to-bottom reassessment of the hundreds of component suppliers that Saab inherited from its previous owner, General Motors (GM).

New models on the way The next new car to come out of the factory will be an estate version of the 9-5. This is due to arrive in showrooms next summer.

After the 9-5 estate, the next all-new model will be the 9-4X, a Volvo XC60-sized crossover that will arrive towards the end of 2011.

The model was signed-off years ago, but has been delayed because it took more than a year for GM to find a buyer for Saab.

The 9-4X is a legacy of GM ownership and will be based on other products from the American manufacturer. It will be built in Mexico, making it the only Saab not made in Sweden.

The new 9-3 – due in 2012 – is a crucial car for the brand. It is the first opportunity Saab has had for many years to inject home-grown DNA into a car from the ground up. As a result, it is seen as a key chance to put the company’s fortunes back on track.

A smaller Audi A1-style supermini is also high on the wish-list, although it’s not yet in any official plans.

Saab wants it there, however, and is looking to see if it can collaborate with other manufacturers to get the car built.

Saab has placed a major order with BMW to buy petrol engines from the prestige German manufacturer.

Since splitting from GM ownership in March this year, Saab has been free to source engines from other manufacturers and the BMW units are intended for use in a new Saab model series.

The two carmakers have agreed not to disclose financial or volume details of the contract.

Citroen is slotting a new type of ultra-quick stop/start system into its medium-to-large model line-up from this month.

The micro-hybrid technology – badged e-HDi – has been teamed up with new Michelin energy-saver tyres to result in CO2 and mpg benefits of up to 15% and will debut on the C4 Picasso facelift from October. An e-HDI model will find its way on to the C5 by November and the new C4 five-door hatch from January 2011.

The first C4 model to get the e-HDi system – a 110hp 1.6 diesel offering 109g/km and 67.3mpg – is initially available only with Citroen’s clutchless six-speed manual gearbox called EGS. However, later in 2011 it will be joined by manual gearbox versions plus a 90hp 1.6 e-HDI model emitting just 99g/km.