84. NISSAN QASHQAI

Price From £19,000 (est) On sale July

NISSAN’S popular family crossover has been given a new lease of life for 2017, to keep it fresh in the face of rivals such as the Toyota C-HR and SEAT Ateca.

Revisions are subtle but numerous. The Qashqai adopts the same ‘V-motion’ front grille as the latest Micra supermini, plus a revised clamshell bonnet, new adaptive LED headlamps and tweaked taillights. Inside, there are fresh materials to improve quality, 3D quilted leather on top models, and a redesigned interface for the infotainment system.

Nissan has also gone on a technology revolution, with everything from a BOSE sound system (arriving from winter onwards) to the company’s PROPILOT autonomous driving technology available – the latter allowing the SUV to steer, accelerate and brake by itself on motorways. Further safety kit will include rear cross-traffic alert and pedestrian detection.

The Qashqai features some under-the-skin tweaks to bring the driving experience closer to SEAT’S class-leading Ateca, including suspension modifications and better insulation to improve refinement. The engine range is unchanged.

“Qashqai is going on a tech revolution, with everything from a BOSE stereo to PROPILOT autonomous driving”

MERCEDES’ new-model boom continues with another AMG GT variant – a four-door Porsche Panamera rival this time. As the recent GT4 concept (above) showed, the styling interprets the lines of the AMG GT Coupé, with the extended wheelbase giving a four-seat cabin.

Power will come from Mercedes’ 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, plus we can expect a more potent S model. But a hardcore version of this exec-style four-door is unlikely.