Vauxhall Tigra
When's it coming and what is it?
The Geneva motor show in March will mark the international debut of Vauxhall's £12,000 folding hard-top Tigra, a competitor for the Peugeot 206CC. UK sales will kick off in April, just in time for buyers to catch the summer season.
Why should I care?
This is an affordable open-top two-seater with a practical folding hard-top. Under the skin is a revised version of the Corsa supermini's chassis with its suspension firmed up to give a sportier ride. The choice of engines is expected to be a 123bhp Corsa SRi unit or 100bhp 1.6. And while you shouldn't expect snarling performance, there is the possibility of a hotter turbocharged 150bhp motor - that would give the Tigra some real teeth.
What makes it really special?
The combination of keen pricing and high-tech roof ought to make the Tigra a winner next summer. The UK is one of the biggest convertible car markets in Europe, and a steel-topped version is perfect for the conditions here. And Vauxhall's stylists appear to have cracked the problem of fitting a folding hardtop to a small car without compromising the styling, a trick many rivals haven't pulled off.
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