Geneva motor show - Daihatsu

What's new?
Well, Daihatsu has given the Charade a bit of a wash and brush-up and has made it more environmentally friendly, too.

It's not the first Charade makeover, is it?
You're not wrong. This is the seventh generation of the model since it was launched in 1980 and this time it gets a new platform, new engine and body styling.

So why is it better for the planet?
It will be powered by a 1.0-litre engine, which will deliver 94bhp - a power increase of 3% over the old model. That's not what makes it green, though.

If you wait and opt for Daihatsu's Idle Stop System, which cuts the engine when you come to a standstill, you get a fuel efficiency of 67.3mpg and, more importantly, 99g/km of carbon dioxide emissions. This puts it in Band A for road tax.

The new Charade has a new catalyst system which means emissions are cleaner, too.

The inside story
The new platform means there's more space inside. It's 210mm longer and 50mm wider. It boasts seven airbags and has a flat rear floor. It's also easy to climb aboard a new Charade, because all four doors can be opened at approximately 90 degrees.

When can you get hold of one?
The European version, the Cuore, will go on sale on the Continent at the end of June and the Charade is expected to go on sale in the UK soon after that. The stop/start version will be available in 2008. Prices are yet to be announced.