Volvo V40 Cross Country & V40 R-Design: Paris 2012

Volvo has revealed the V40 Cross Country and V40 R-Design at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, and both are convincing. The sporty take on the new V40 is the V40 R-design, a cosmetic update for the already good-looking V40 that manages to bolt on go-faster bits without wrecking the good lines of the normal V40. We would like to have seen the Volvo V40 R-Design get the sports suspension as standard, but Volvo obviously feel that most R-Design buyers want the looks rather than the more dynamic ride the sports suspension offers, so it stays as an option. And as the R-Design option is available across the new V40 range – from the D2 to the T4 – it’s probably the right decision.

Renault Clio Gordini 200 – UK Price & detail

The Renault Clio Gordini 200 Renault are moving on with their Gordini offerings, this time the Clio with the announcement that the Renaulsport Clio 200 gets the Gordini treatment – Blue with white stripes – and a near £2,000 price premium. Apart from the requisite paint job Renault has added gloss black to parts of the bumpers, shoved a set of white mirrors on and added some bespoke, 17″ alloys. But in fact you don’t ahve to stick to the Gordini Blue colour scheme – you can opt for Black or White instead.

New VW Golf Estate costs from £17,915

The New VW Golf Estate (pictured) costs from £17,915 in the UK The MK 7 VW Golf Estate arrived at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and tomorrow it goes on sale in the UK. The Golf Estate follows pretty much the same specification form as the Golf hatch, with all Estates (the entry level model is the Golf Estate S) getting Bluetooth, iPod connectivity, DAB with 5.8″ touchscreen, XDS E-Diff, and VW’s automatic post-collision braking system. Move up to the Golf Estate SE and you can add stuff like 16″ alloys, auto lights and wipers, driver alert, pre-crash, ADC with Front Assist and City Braking, driver profile selection and a set of reading lights in the back.