September could put the brakes on new car sales’ five-month decline.
That’s because this month sees the introduction of the new 67-reg plate and along with March, it’s the biggest month for the new car market as many people – mostly private buyers – hold off buying a new car until the new reg plate become available.
If September can’t manage to reverse the almost half-year drop in new car registrations, then it’ll likely slump all the way to 2018.
But if you were in the market for a new car, what’s out there that’s worth having?
Range Rover Velar
Bridging the gap between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport, the Velar is the fourth piece in the Rangie puzzle. The design is tight and clean, and its on-road manner is ‘more car-like’ than any of its siblings.
The critics don’t just like it, they love it, and with a 67-reg plate proudly grading its face, you probably will too.
Mercedes-Benz SLC 180
If the Mazda MX-5 is premium enough for you, Merc has lowered the entry point of its SLC roadster with the new SLC 180.
Priced in excess of £31k, it’s hardly pocket money, but it does make a drop-top Merc more affordable than ever and it’ll look super-slick on your driveway with a 67-reg plate slapped on its mush.
Ford Fiesta
Sure, it’s an uninspired choice but the Fiesta sells so well for a reason: it’s ruddy good at everything.
Handling, check. Styling, yep. Price, bang-on. It just gets ticks all the boxes and with the introduction of a new SUV-influenced off-shoot – the Fiesta Active – Ford has stretched the Fiesta’s appeal wider than ever. It pleases us very much to tell you there’s an ST version on the way too, capable of 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds.
Volkswagen Golf
Another mega-selling model but again, the Golf has gone some way to putting its emissions scandal behind it with a series of revisions that address its efficiency head-on.
The fact it looks sharper than ever and drives just as well is a bonus.
Jaguar F-Type
As if there weren’t enough reasons to want an F-Type already, Jaguar now offers a tamer variant that uses a downsized four-pot unit. It’s an intriguing move, even if it hasn’t been entirely successful.
Mini JCW Countryman
The Countryman is sacrilege to some. Compared to the original Mini and even its rebirth under BMW Group-ownership, this bulky SUV-like hulk is ‘Mini’ by name and little else. That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t want this John Cooper Works variant with a 67-reg plate.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Alfa’s first ever SUV has injected some much-needed variety to the Italian car maker’s model range.
September sees the introduction of a 177bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine, as well as a 197bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine to the Stelvio’s engine offering.
Find out more on the new Stelvio here.
Honda Civic Type R
Honda was hasty to replace the Civic Type R, with its successor – based on the tenth-gen Civic – arriving barely two years into the lifecycle of 2015’s effort.
With 305bhp to throw around, it can hit 62mph in 5.7 seconds with a 167mph top speed, so it was no surprise when it set a new record time on the punishing Nürburgring Nordschleife earlier this year.
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