Peugeot 208 R2 (2012)

Go on then, how does the Porsche Panamera drive? It’s a highly impressive car. The ride is Mercedes S-class smooth in the softest of three suspension settings; the seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox manages to be both silky smooth at car park speeds and engagingly direct – with no loss of refinement – at faster speeds; and the V8 is a peach. For the most part you’ll barely hear the engine, but accelerate hard and a dramatic V8 hammering seeps into the cabin as the power builds with a lovely, creamy linearity to the 6500rpm redline. One aspect of the K9 which isn't a Hyundai hand-me-down is the car 's styling. The K9 continues the good run of designs under Peter Schreyer's management, and avoids the chintzy details of the Equus. Given the number and variety of separate models coming from BMW, it comes as no surprise that some name-shuffling is necessary. Like Mercedes, Munich is having to rejig its range to accommodate the flurry of new metal, so the next 1-series coupe and convertible will share the 2-series nameplate. That's right. This is one of half a dozen derivatives spun off the A-class's new Mercedes Front-wheel-drive Architecture (MFA), the new oily bits underpinning the smallest Mercedes and indeed the new small Infiniti exec being planned through the alliance with Renault-Nissan. The concept car uses the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, turbocharged to produce 208bhp. In production, this car would be badged CLA250. But it's not front-wheel drive; the MFA architecture can be equipped with four-wheel drive, and this show car has 4Matic and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Panamera GTS in the metal Black is the contrasting colour of choice for the GTS. The bi-xenon eyes rest in pitch-black sockets; the window trim, air intakes, rear diffuser, sill covers and dual tailpipes are painted in the devil's signature shade; and the leather-and-alcantara trim is also kept in matching coalmine hues.