Superminis: Mitsubishi - Peugeot

Mitsubishi Mirage
What is it?New supermini, likely to major on low price
Price from 10,000 (est)
On sale Winter

Unveiled at the recent Tokyo motor show, the Mirage will become part of Mitsubishis supermini line-up when it goes on sale next year.

Details are scant, but we do know that the Mirage will be shorter than the current Colt by nearly 20cm, yet will be only a little narrower. Despite this, it will still have room for five people.

It's unclear whether the Mirage will directly replace the Colt in Mitsubishi's range, but it is expected to be cheaper.

The engine in the Japanese-spec car revealed at the Tokyo show is a 1.0-litre petrol unit that comes with Mitsubishis Auto Stop & Go (AS&G) system as standard, which will help to cut emissions and improve fuel consumption in traffic. Mitsubishi says that the Mirage will be able to average around 70mpg with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), too.

The Mirage will first go on sale in Thailand in March, with models expected to be available the UK by the end of 2012.

Peugeot 208
What is it? Radical replacement for the 207
Price from 10,500 (est)
On sale Summer

Is the 208 the start of a supermini revolution? Many new cars are bigger and heavier than their predecessors but not the 208.

Compact dimensions allied to an average weight reduction of 110kg over the 207 should make the 208 more fun to drive. They contribute to a dramatic drop in CO2 emissions, too: theres an average reduction of 34g/km, while the cleanest diesel will emit just 87g/km.

Fuel consumption is yet to be confirmed, but wed expect the most efficient version to top 80mpg.

The biggest CO2 emissions drop comes via a new range of petrol engines. 1.0 and 1.2-litre three-cylinder units offer emissions as low as 99g/km and average fuel economy of up to 54.7mpg. More efficient versions of todays 1.4 and 1.6-litre fours are also likely.

The 208s styling represents a clean break, too. Three- and five-door models share the same profile, but the side window and chrome trim designs of the three-door versions acknowledge the classic 205.

Inside, theres a smaller-than-usual steering wheel, while the centre of the dashboard is dominated on most models by a large touch-screen. Despite the 208 being 7cm shorter and 1cm lower than the 207, it has 5cm more rear legroom and an extra 15 litres of boot space.