There’s that addictive pop-pop-pop as you lift your foot off the loud pedal and the engine goes into over-run. There’s no waste gate to speak of, and that excess pressure created by the now very refined supercharger has only one place to go through one of the four, 399,5cc capacity cylinders. The Minni Cooper S has undergone some changes and motorists are unlikely to realise that under that familiar body, there’s a whole new beast.

The Mégane CC should feature high on your shopping list if you enjoy the wind in your hair. Chic and classy is how I’d describe it. At R270 000 this coupé-cabriolet is sensibly priced (its closest challenger, the Peugeot 307cc, comes in at R299 900), and it is extremely attractive — with the hardtop up or down. Getting the top down will take you just 22 seconds.

Last October I tested BMW’s 120i and, like any hack, I wanted more power. In the case of the 120i petrol version, both automatic and manual versions reflected a lack of grunt and I waited patiently for the diesel version to arrive. Finally, a magnificent 120d arrived for testing, fitted with the optional 17-inch alloy wheels and electronic sliding sunroof.

Ingolstadt carmaker Audi has launched its new A4 range, comprising 11 models with three engine derivatives. At the media launch in Mpumulanga, Audi pointed out that these are not just facelift versions of the previous range, but brand new models in every way — only the roof remains similar.

In the past 60 days South Africa has seen the arrival of no fewer than seven new Citroen models. Last month the French car manufacturer released its face-lifted C5 range, a trio of luxury family saloons that boast high standards of fitment, comfort and safety. All are well-priced and positioned to rival the BMW 3-series, Volvo’s S40 and Audi’s A4 models.

Production of the Hi Ace and Stallion vans has stopped with the introduction of the Quantum. Toyota has always enjoyed a very strong light commercial vehicle (LCV) presence, having held as much as a 30% market share in the past — although this has declined to 26% recently.The arrival of the Quantum range of LCVs, the company believes, will allow it to increase that share again

To date, there are just seven Land Rover Defender 147s on our roads, and one is owned by Kian Barker of Shakabarker tours in St Lucia. With a zoology degree and honours in ichthyology, Barker is nobody’s monkey and he soon realised that to provide his guests with the ultimate turtle egg laying/ hatching experience, he needed a very different vehicle.

Toyota is to introduce the cutting-edge technology of the Prius (which was voted both the North American and European Car of the Year 2005 late last year) with its its hybrid synergy drive on a small scale in South Africa to test the water. There is no doubt that if the vehicle is sensibly priced, it will be hugely successful in the urban environment.