As Team GB flew home...

As Team GB flew home with an unprecedented haul of medals from the Beijing Olympics, another Brit was being crowned the best in the world. JaguarтЂ™s new XF beat off stiff opposition to be crowned Auto Express Car of the Year. The victory marked a reversal of fortune for the firm. When Auto Express launched in 1989, Jag was in the doldrums тЂ“ it had just been rescued by Ford and had an outdated range of cars. The prospect of the firm making a model good enough to take a Car of the Year title would have been laughable. Today, nearly 20 years on, Jag is back where it belongs тЂ“ at the top.

But the big cat wasnтЂ™t the only car we recognised. Among the 19 other trophy winners in 2008 were FiatтЂ™s 500 тЂ“ named Best City Car тЂ“ and the Nissan GT-R, which won the Sporting Car award ahead of the Audi R8 and Porsche Cayman.

BMW, meanwhile, picked up the prestigious Special Honour for its EfficientDynamics eco programme, while Lexus took the Driver Power award.

Jaguar XF crowned (Issue 1,026)

In our New Car Honours 2008 coverage, we paid tribute to the Jaguar XFтЂ™s design team and the talented group of engineers which took its vision forward to create the best mid-size executive car on the market. We also praised company bosses for showing the courage to create a new design template for the model тЂ“ leaving behind the retro styling and old-world clichés of the S-Type it replaced. Most of all, however, we were impressed with how it had managed to create a uniquely тЂ�JaguarтЂ™ driving experience.

Inventor of anti-misfuelling gadget hits TV jackpot (Issue 1,025)

An innovative device that stops drivers misfuelling won big bucks backing on the BBC show DragonsтЂ™ Den in August. Mike Cotton from Great Dunmow, Essex, took his prototype on the programme тЂ“ and emerged with a ТЈ250,000 investment from тЂ�dragonsтЂ™ Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis. The unit can be retro-fitted to any diesel car, and its special filler neck stops unleaded nozzles being used.

Hatch is here (Issue 1,024)

One of 2009тЂ™s most important new cars finally broke cover in August, when we revealed the sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf. Auto Express was granted exclusive access to the hatch, and our pictures proved that the Walter deтЂ™Silva-styled car is ready to do battle with the best-selling Ford Focus next year. At the time, we remarked that the design is much more restrained than many were expecting, but deтЂ™Silva told us: тЂњThe Golf is an icon. It needs to be simple, timeless and instantly recognisable.тЂќ

Wraps off blue ovalтЂ™s city star (Issue 1,024)

In a bumper month for new cars, Ford weighed in with its Ka. The official pictures confirmed the accuracy of the scoop shots published in May тЂ“ and proved Ford had created a worthy successor to the original. We explained how the cabin would mirror the latest Fiesta for style and quality, and also that the suspension was developed by the team behind the Focus.

Drivers watch speed due to running costs (Issue 1,024)

Road safety campaigners cheered AA Motoring Trust findings that suggested drivers were adopting a тЂ�go slowтЂ™ on motorways. But our story revealed most motorists were easing off the throttle to cut spiralling fuel bills, rather than over any road safety concern. A spokesman for the Trust told us: тЂњFuel is a more convincing argument to slow down than the threat of a speed camera.тЂќ

ТЈ1.2million stunner unleashed (Issue 1,025)

The prospect of global financial meltdown did nothing to dampen Aston MartinтЂ™s enthusiasm for its most ambitious project ever: a ТЈ1.2million supercar. We revealed that the British brand would offer customers the chance to create their own specification, with an almost unlimited array of designs and materials at their disposal. A spokesman for Aston told us: тЂњIt will be like purchasing a piece of art тЂ“ no two cars will be the same.тЂќ

Early glimpse of RC concept (Issue 1,027)

the Peugeot RC concept car grabbed plenty of headlines when we unmasked it weeks ahead of its Paris Motor Show debut. Penned by design chief Jerome Gallix, it took the form of a sleek two-door coupé with the firmтЂ™s trademark feline headlamps dominating the front end. Although bosses admitted they have no plans to build the RC, we revealed that styling elements are certain to feature on the forthcoming 407 replacement, the 408.

Rubber rated (Issue 1,027)

The annual Auto Express tyre test was bigger and better than ever in 2008, with no fewer than 16 products going head-to-head as we went in search of the best all-rounder. Once again, consumer editor Kim Adams was packed off to the Clermont-Ferrand test track in France to pick a winner. This year, we tested 225/45 R17 tyres тЂ“ one of the most popular sizes in the UK тЂ“ with the top spot going to PirelliтЂ™s P Zero. At the bottom of the pile was the Chinese brand, Wanli, which scored on price but performed very poorly on the track.

Family star (Issue 1,025)

After months of waiting, Auto Express persuaded GM to hand over the keys to its new Vauxhall/Opel Insignia in August. Expectations were high as we climbed aboard тЂ“ and we werenтЂ™t disappointed. Engineers had done a great job on the chassis, giving it ride quality to rival premium saloons, while the whole package looked absolutely fantastic in the metal. Watch the Insignia"s hi-tech magic eye here.