A Ride Through 2013 In 23 Cars

The year 2013 was a massive for auto industry. The year saw birth of the next generation of hypercars as well as every day cars. As the year draws to a close, now it's time to reflect and roundup the biggest news stories and new car unveils of 2013.

1. Mercedes C-Class revealed

First up is the unveiling of the all new Mercedes C-Class, also known as Mercedes' baby exec. It was one of the most eagerly awaited cars of 2013. A huge marketing campaign went underway before the new BMW 3 Series rival was officially unleashed, thanks to a whole lot of leaked images and spy shots. When the new C-Class was unveiled it grasped all the attention with beautiful smooth lines and brusque design. The new C-Class didn't just get a new look but also a revised engine line up with a new basic 1.6 litre diesel powerplant derived from Nissan. There are no prices yet for the new car, but expect it to be launched at around £26,000.

2. BMW 4 Series unveiled

BMW didn't lag behind its arch rival Mercedes in launching of a new car called the 4 Series. You might ask what the point of a new car is. Well BMW wants to fill every niche in the market and it rebadged its 3 Series coupe to a 4 Series, but with a sleeker body and more flowing proportions. It is 10mm lower than the 3 Series with a wider track, plus its springs and dampers have been tweaked for sharper handling. These improvements in design and performance add £3,000 to its price over the 3 Series. A 4 Series Gran Coupe is also expected to arrive next year.

3. Honda NSX concept

Honda NSX concept wasn't shown for the first time in 2013, but it still stayed one of the most popular concepts at the Detroit Motor Show back in January. The Detroit Motor Show only unveiled a new feature of the car, its interior, which was never seen before in any of the concepts. There was no change in the exterior and the showcasing is another step in the rebirth of NSX, due to go into production in 2015. Honda is tight lipped about the performance of the NSX but rumours are that a direct-injection V6 twinned with two electric motors developing nearly 400bhp will be fitted in the final NSX.

4. Shelby Ford Focus ST

At the 2013 Detroit Motor Show, Ford revealed a Shelby Focus ST tuned by Shelby American. At the beginning of the year at the Detroit Motor Show, Ford unveiled a Shelby Focus ST tuned by Shelby American. Shelby tweaked its exterior by adding a carbon fibre bonnet and Borla exhaust system but it was still based on the standard 247bhp Focus ST. There was no new engine but it was fitted with larger Brembo brakes. The car was also lowered but the production was limited to 500 units per year and only for US market.

5. Rumours of new Audi A4

Audi plans to release the all new Audi A4 saloon in early 2015. The new generation of A4 will be around 100kg lighter and more prudent than the current model. The new A4 will be challenging BMW 3 Series crown for the compact executive saloon title. The new Audi A4 saloon will be adopting LED headlights and an aggressive version of the trademark trapezial grille. Alexander Pesch, head of technical project management for Audi, told us: "The next A4 will move the game on. The jump from today's car in terms of design and efficiency will be really big."

6. Rumours of new Ford Mondeo

The new Ford Mondeo will be launched in September 2014 and will have two different petrol electric engines. One Ford Mondeo will be a hybrid model and the other one will be a plug-in. The new Mondeo was due to be launched in Europe this year but due to factory disputes the release date was put forward to 2014. Its new headlight and grille shape has been inspired by the Evos concept and will sit 4mm lower to the ground than the current model.

7. Range Rover Sport unveiled

The new Range Rover Sport has been given a new look and new engine line up for 2013. The new engine line up also includes a new four-cylinder diesel engine which will be fitted to vehicles next year and will be the entry level model. Land Rover is also going to launch a hot RS version of the sport, rumoured to deliver more than 542bhp. The new Range Rover has an aluminium body, which means its saves 420kg weight from its predecessor. It also has improvements in emissions and economy of up to 15 percent. Its prices will start from £51,500.

8. New Land Rover Freelander 3 gossip

Land Rover is also planning a new Freelander which is due to arrive in 2015. The latest model will adopt Ranger Rover style cues which will give it a more modern and crisp appearance. Its size will be the same as the Evoque but will replace its interior with tougher interior and rugged appearance. The new Freelander 3 may also be equipped with new nine-speed automatic gearbox and Haldex 5 all-wheel drive system. Expect to pay around £25,000 for this new version.

9. Gossip of new Ford Focus

The Ford Focus is UK's bestselling car and a new model is set to appear in early 2014. This new car will set a new benchmark for handling and efficiency in its class. The new Focus will also receive a minor facelift giving it the same look as the rest of the Ford lineup. There will also be a new 1.5 litre diesel engine in the range, with lower CO2 emissions being reduced in the larger diesel engine. The new Focus is probably going to start around £14,000 and will likely hit the showrooms after its Geneva Motor Show in March.

10. Porsche Macan revealed

Everyone was eagerly awaiting Porsche's new baby SUV and when it was launched at the LA Motor Show earlier this year, it caused a massive stir. It was named the Macan and its main role was to take on the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. The Macan is still a sports car despite being a SUV. The engine line up includes two four-cylinder engines; petrol and a diesel. The new engines will join the existing 335bhp 3.0 V6 bi-turbo in the Macan S, a 254bhp 3.0 V6 turbodiesel in the Macan S Diesel and a 394bhp 3.6 V6 bi-turbo in the range-topping Macan Turbo.

11. Porsche 911 GT3

Ok now we can have a debate regarding its paddle shift-only gearbox, the GT3 completely blows you away. It is much more civilised and faster when you drive it and more exciting than ever to drive hard. You might have thought £100k was a waste of money before this new GT3 but after buying one of these you are forced to think money well spent. The GT3 does everything you want from a sports car.

12. Porsche 918 Spyder

Porsches 918 Spyder is a beast. It is astonishingly fast and phenomenally good. It's a hypercar which can run on electric alone. The best thing about this supercar is that even with all its gadgetry it is still an old fashioned car at its core. It has proper steering, handling and amazing levels of grip. This monster has a great V8 4.6 litre engine which actually makes your heart explode.

13. Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is an extraordinary car for many reasons but it still is a lovely car to drive. This car is exclusively runs on batteries and it is its raison d'etre. You will be happy to know that it can run for 250 miles just on batteries alone which makes this car even nicer to drive. If you have to wait for hours before recharging it isn't that amazing? It's a real world car.

14. Aston Martin V12 Vantage S

This Aston Martin Vantage is one heck of a car not just in straight lines but through corners. Aston Martin also has good quality under brakes as well as it is brilliant sideways. You decide what you want your Aston to do it will do it. The new gearbox is truly magnificent.

15. Ferrari F12

As it goes with every Ferrari it is one freak of a car. It is extremely fast, it is ludicrous. That is not where it stops as it has astounding amount of traction and balance. This is despite having enough power to pull a block of flats to pieces.

16. Ferrari 458 Speciale

Imagine when the 458 Speciale meets the GT3 in 2014; it will be the biggest showdown of the year. This Ferrari Speciale runs a chance of putting one over the GT3, why? It is extremely sensational in third gear, with about 12 degrees of corrective lock applied. It also has a new SideSlip control mode which is fully engaged all the time giving it an edge over the GT3.

17. Renault Sport Clio 200 Turbo

The RenaultSport Clio 200 Turbo is Lemon of the year. In comparison to the astounding Fiesta ST, the Clio 200 Turbo is just OK, but in contrast to its luminous predecessor, it was a damp squib. We ask Clio to do better next time please.

18. Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

This Mercedes-Benz AMG is great and it is not being offered with much more speed and practicality. It has a much more cabin quality. This new hot hatch has crisp handling, but it is expensive. However, unique cars don't come cheap.

19. BMW i3

The future of next generation motoring is here Now. It should win European Car of the Year. You fall for the i3 instantly due to its lightweight, attractive price and high-quality interior. It truly is a great performance car and it offers a combination of urban and rural drive. The luggage space and interior is impressive too. However, its short range will limit its potential share but if you really want one than you can get a range extender version too. If you like the odd looks and are thinking about having a EV, the i3 just made your decision a lot easier.

20. Lister Bell STR, aka Lancia Stratos replica

It costs thirty thousand pounds to build it but has a million dollar look. On top of that, it actually drives well too.

21. Alpha Romeo 4C

It has gorgeous design as well as everyday usability which make it a perfect ride. However, it is more of a plaything. It has parking sensors without them rear visibility is awful. It's a perfect car for those long journeys.

22. Lamborghini Huracan

The new Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 is the predecessor to the famous Gallardo. It has a 601bhp V10 engine, four-wheel drive and top speed of 202mph. This will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show but it was unveiled earlier in 2013. It arrives in UK in autumn.

23. Ford Mustang

American legend the Ford Mustang is coming to UK shores in 2015. It has a brand new design and new frugal engines. It is a big thing for UK as Mustang sold 9 million units across the world. It will make its American debut at its home motor show in Detroit, in January. In UK it will be sold as a right-hand drive car from early 2015. No prices have been announced for it, but expect the four-cylinder EcoBoost model to start from £30,000. The V8 model will cost £5,000 more. Why the V8 engine costs too much, well because Mustang is famous for its engines. Customers looking for ultimate performance will be given the choice of the range-topper V8 engine churning out 420bhp and 529Nm of torque. The new EcoBoost engine is the most exciting feature of this new Mustang as it will deliver 304bhp from its 2.3 litre turbocharged unit and it will make up bulk of the sales in UK.

Callum Wright is an auto engine expert working for Replacement Engines UK, visit their blog for Latest Car News And Reviews, go to their website to get Top Quality Used Car Engines For Sale.

Callum Wright is an auto engine expert working for Replacement Engines UK