JUST ANNOUNCED

Audi Q5

Prices £35,000-£60,000

On sale Autumn 2008

What’s different? It’s no longer possible to host a motor show without an Audi concept car making an appearance. This Cross Cabriolet convertible made its debut at last week’s Los Angeles motor show. Although a concept, it is set to be put into production next year – without the convertible roof – as the Audi Q5, a mid-sized SUV

Why should I care? With a 3 litre V6 TDI diesel engine boasting 240bhp and giving it a 0-62mph time of 7.2sec, as well as a respectable fuel economy of 38.6mpg, the car (in Q5 form) will go head to head with the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport. Expect it to be very long on style and particularly short on off-road ability

Consider also
BMW X5 £39,995-£53,860,
Porsche Cayenne £37,100-£74,650,
Land Rover Range Rover Sport £35,740-£57,750

JUST ANNOUNCED

Honda FCX Clarity

Price $600 (£290) per month, lease deal only, though Honda says it will eventually be on sale at about £50,000

On sale Summer 2008

What’s different? It’s the first fuel-cell car in the world to enter series production, and that makes it a landmark car, especially if Honda is right that zero emission, hydrogen fuel cell cars will one day be commonplace. The FCX Clarity will only be offered to selected customers in the US and Japan on a three-year lease deal but it will earn a place in automotive history

Why should I care? Fuel cell cars offer zero emission potential, or a 60% reduction in global warming gases compared with equivalent petrol-engined vehicles. The FCX and cars like it could eventually make a serious impact on carbon emissions, although many more will be needed than the few hundred that Honda intends to build

Consider also
A hybrid, a low emission diesel, or best of all, a bicycle