The top ten cars to be released in the last quarter of 2011

The top ten cars which should be released in the next three months.

During the next three months before the start of 2012 there should be a plethora of cars released onto the car market; the top ten of which are featured below.

This year has seen some stunning new cars being released onto the market and showcased at motor shows however, there are still some brand new cars yet to be unveiled.

Below are the top ten cars which are due to make their début between now and the end of 2011; from new look cars to ones that have merely been aesthetically altered.

Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, the Ferrari 458 Spider is due to be released following the media trials which are taking place at Emilia-Romagna - close to the Italian car firm’s headquarters. The major difference marking this Ferrari out is the lack of a roof on the vehicle, turning it into a convertible.

Only affordable for the millionaires, the Ferrari comes with the fittings expected of a supercar, including a V-8 twin engine, seven speed twin clutch auto transmission and the ability to drive from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds. Although 100 pounds heavier, the car is a driver’s dream, sweeping around corners and able to accelerate at break-neck speeds on the open road.

The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer has been built to give competition to the Ford S-Max and undercuts its Ford competitor by £1,200. Launched at the Geneva Motor Show to replace the Zafira, the Zafira Tourer is fitted with Vauxhall’s Flex7 seating and has its chassis based on the model of the Insignia.

Built with the family in mind, the Zafira Tourer has 710 litres of boot space, which can be expanded to 1,860 litres when the back seats are folded away. The Zafira also comes with a 1.4 litre turbo petrol engine which combines the best of stop-start technology to reduce excessive fuel consumption.

Seat’s production of the Mii is a homage to the Volkswagen’s Up! city car, which is maybe not surprising considering that Seat are a subsidiary of the Volkswagen group. The venture marks the return to small cars for the first time in six years and offers the customer the option of three door or five door four-seated models.

Aimed at younger buyers, the Seat Mii has three cylinder petrol engines which can offer the driver either 59 break horse power or 69 break horse power. The car, which will also have a sports model launched with it, will be available for less than £8,000 although there is no word on whether Seat will try to undercut its main rival, the Skoda CitiGo.

The Porsche 911 Carrera is due for release just in time for Christmas. The 3.4 litre rear-engine, rear wheeled drive will be the sixth generation 911 model and replaces its cousin, the 997. Designed as a two door coupe and two door convertible, the new 911 is one of the most eagerly anticipated Porsche models yet.

This particular 911 model reaches top speeds of 179 miles per hour and can race from 0-60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds. Inside the car, the 911 combines sporty seats with an extra 25 mm of leg room. The interior also features a range of finishes including wood, carbon, leather and aluminium.

Another car which has been manufactured on the production line to provide competition to the Renault Megane and Volkswagen Scirocco is the Vauxhall Astra GTC. Prices start from £18,495 and can rise to over £22,000. Vauxhall are promoting the car as the best looking and most exciting to drive in its class range.

With four engine choices, a 180 brake horse power 1.6 litre engine and a top speed of 132 miles per hour, the car is targeted at a fairly wide market, with family drivers, as well as individuals who like to cruise the countryside in their Astra GTC at weekends, most likely to feel the benefit. The car has been purposefully geared towards the UK roads, unlike other Vauxhall vehicles, which have followed the standard Opel production process on the continent.

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class has been touted for a UK release this Christmas but is more than likely to hit the markets in time for Easter. The MPV front-wheeled drive has been given some presents of its own, namely a new engine and a multi-link rear suspension which replaces the torsion beam set-up in the previous B-Class model.

Other differences for the so-called second generation model include the car being able to use 156 break horse power, more than any B-Class model at present. Depending on the specifications, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class can reach a top speed of 140 miles per hour based on a four cylinder engine.

With less than a month to go until motorists can collect their pre-orders, fans of the Audi Q3 compact SUV can start to count down to delivery day. Costing £24,560, the car can come as either a two wheel or a four wheel drive. For such a large vehicle the Audi Q3 is surprisingly quick with a top speed of 132 miles per hour and can do 0-60 miles per hour in 8.2 seconds.

Audi’s Q3 has a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which is able to help it navigate off-road terrain as well as normal roads. The car is impressive to drive with it being smooth to handle, however it also benefits from the interior such as smooth seats and space to fit a large family.

Coming out just after Christmas, the Hyundai i40 Saloon comes in two models, the 1.6 litre version which costs £17,395 or the 1.7 turbodiesel model which is available for £24,895. Originally given its airing at the Barcelona Motor Show, the prototype sufficiently impressed so its release in the UK will not feature any major changes to the model.

Four engines are available – two of which are petrol and two of which are diesel – with each powering the car to 60 miles per hour from zero in 9.6 seconds. Features for the car include front air ventilation seats, a heated steering wheel and excellent Bluetooth connection.

Honda unveiled the Civic at the Frankfurt Motor Show and the car can be tested by potential drivers in November, shortly before it is released in Britain. The aero-dynamic vehicle is built in Swindon and is designed primarily for British and European road use, offering the customer 148 break horse power.

The Civic’s downsized engine not only conforms with a pledge made by Honda chief executive Takanobu Ito but also means that the car is more environmentally and economically friendly for motorists. The vehicle is as practical as you would expect from a Honda and unlike in the north American markets, the car is a marketed as a hatchback.

Technically a restructured car rather than a new model, the Kia Soul has been re-branded as a family-friendly crossover hatchback. The five seater car has unique styling expected of a Kia and will cost £12,495 when it is available on the market. For that money consumers can expect a 1.6 litre engine and six-speed manual gearbox across the range of Soul models.

Smaller changes are noticeable in the new remodelled range. These features include pull handles for the doors, revised bumpers, interior trim and tail lights. Extras for the car include air-conditioning, trip computer, a six-speaker system and steering wheel mounted audio controls.

Related posts:

1. The top ten cars at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed
2. Top ten cars of the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011
3. The top ten green cars at the Geneva Motor Show 2011
4. Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi to be released within the year
5. New Porsche 911 set for release by 2011