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THE dawn of a new year is traditionally a time to look forward, and that’s what we’re doing this week as we preview some of the most exciting new cars coming in the next 12 months. Another vintage year is in store, and it’s especially encouraging to see British companies at the forefront of innovation; the new plug-in Range Rover, Aston’s Vantage and Jaguar’s I-Pace (above) are guaranteed to be among 2018’s highlights. Of course, a new year is also a time for reinvention, and I’m pleased tell you we’ve introduced some improvements as we continue to innovate based on what you tell us. Firstly, we’re following the trend set by the car industry by downsizing slightly; we’re moving to a more compact A4 size that our research tells us…

• Could arrive in early 2020s • V6 hybrid Vantage possible • EXCLUSIVE IMAGES John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy ANDY PALMER Aston Martin CEO “We won’t offer plug-in hybrids. I’d rather spend my engineering dollar on the final goal: pure-electric vehicles” ASTON Martin could launch a lightweight, pure-electric sports car to rival Tesla’s forthcoming next-generation Roadster as part of a wider push towards electrification, Auto Express has learned. The British brand announced recently that it will sell 155 examples of the RapidE pure-electric car next year. And it has committed to having at least a mild-hybrid version of all its models by 2025. The company’s CEO Andy Palmer has now suggested to Auto Express that a revitalised Aston brand could consider taking on Elon Musk’s Tesla operation, which recently previewed a new Roadster…

• EXCLUSIVE IMAGES Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn “Renault’s designers will also take the opportunity to give the Clio supermini a new lease of life” How Symbioz provides clues to Renault’s future designs A PROTOTYPE version of the Renault Symbioz concept from last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show (above) has demonstrated the Level 4 autonomous functionality Renault predicts it will have on the road by 2023. The car’s design will also influence the look of future Renaults; the first evidence will be on the Clio when it’s revealed towards the end of the year. RENAULT is aiming to have one of the most advanced and efficient superminis on sale when it launches the fifth-generation Clio at the end of the year. An electrified powertrain and basic autonomous driving functions will be introduced on the…

John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy CHARGERS SLOW FAST RAPID THE UK added less than one new public charging point for every six new plug-in cars sold during 2017, Auto Express can reveal. A total of 3,178 public connectors of varying speeds went live over the 12 months from January to December last year – but the latest Department for Transport figures show that more than 20,000 plug-in cars had been registered during the first nine months of the same period. Data from charging infrastructure website ZapMap (zap-map.com) shows that the UK ended December with 14,093 charging points in 4,960 locations, compared with 10,986 and 4,042 at the start of 2017. The data includes public charging points that are free to use, plus those run by card-based charging schemes such as Chargemaster’s POLAR network.…

Red letter day for uprated Focus RS A RED-hot new limited-run Ford Focus RS has arrived for 2018. The RS Red Edition (above) is on sale now, priced from £36,295. Just 300 have been earmarked for UK buyers, and each car gets Race Red bodywork paint, gloss black alloy wheels and grey brake calipers. A Quaife limited-slip differential is included in the RS Red Edition package, too. Facelifted Cactus names its price CITROEN has announced that its updated C4 Cactus is on sale now, priced from £17,265. Two trim levels are available, Feel and Flair, while all models are equipped as standard with the brand’s new Hydraulic Cushion suspension set-up. Engine options include 109bhp or 128bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrols and a 99bhp 1.6 diesel. Top-spec models cost £20,895. Honda plugs…

• EXCLUSIVE “We are telling advertisers they must include information they do not currently always include“ Advertising Standards Agency spokesman Martin_Saarinen@dennis.co.uk @AE_Consumer MOTORISTS who have unknowingly bought ex-fleet, ex-business or ex-rental vehicles from approved-used dealers through misleading adverts could be entitled to between 25 and 100 per cent of the purchase price back in compensation, leading lawyers have told Auto Express. Damon Parker, head of litigation at law firm Harcus Sinclair, said a recent ruling by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) now means owners have a “viable case” against approved-used dealers that failed to inform them the car they bought was once run by fleets, rental companies or businesses. In October this year, the Advertising Standards Agency ruled on behalf of Auto Express reader Ashley Rumbold from Cambridge, who’d complained…