Ford fans had plenty...

Ford fans had plenty to cheer at the start of 2008 when we revealed that the firm was gunning for BMW and Audi with its third-generation Focus.

Our dramatic images ò€“ created using insider sources ò€“ showed that the blue ovalò€™s designers will make the firmò€™s best-seller chunkier and sportier than ever.

The new machine, which promises to have the same wow factor as the original Focus, will be longer than the current car and boast a more spacious cabin. Our information also suggested that Ford is planning to pack the car with new technology, including standard Bluetooth connectivity and even Internet access.

We reported the firm is likely to do away with some current petrol engines in favour of small turbo units. The move, already employed by Volkswagen, would deliver sharper performance with lower emissions. The Focus MkIII will also feature fuel-saving stop-start technology. Our spies suggest that the new model will hit dealers in 2010.

Abarth 500 SS leaked (Issue 993)

We already knew that Fiat was planning an Abarth 500, but then we heard that the firm was working on an even quicker SS version. Rumour had it that the 1.4-litre turbo engine was being fine tuned by Paulo Martinelli, the engineer better known for designing Ferrariò€™s Formula One powerplants.

Fiat 500 first drive (Issue 996)

The wait was agonising, but Fiatò€™s reborn 500 finally hit the UK in January. Having sampled the delights of the left-hand-drive 500 in 2007, we were keen to see if the transition to right-hand drive had done anything to change our opinion. Fortunately, the switch only served to make a great car even better.

Detroit stunner (Issue 995)

Performance fans had a shock when Audi announced it was planning the worldò€™s first diesel supercar. The firm chose the Detroit Motor Show to debut the R8 TDI concept, and made no secret that it was planning to put the oil-burner into production as soon as it could. We revealed that the 6.0-litre V12 allowed the car to sprint from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds.

Supermini hot hatch gets ST treatment (Issue 994)

It would be another six months before Ford officially unveiled the Fiesta, but we published pictures of a sporty new ST version in January. Our story and exclusive images shed light on Fordò€™s plans to make its sporty Fiesta drive better than anything else in the class. It will use a new 180bhp 1.6-litre turbo motor.

Garage tyre pumps exposed (Issue 994)

The shocking state of the UKò€™s forecourt tyre pumps was revealed in an Auto Express investigation that was backed up by road safety campaigners. A spot-check of over 80 sites across the UK showed nearly one in five pumps was not working at all, while those that did function often displayed dangerously misleading readings.

Furai let loose (Issue 996)

Supercars were the order of the day at Januaryò€™s Detroit Motor Show, and Auto Expressò€™s reporting team was among the thousands of journalists struggling to catch a view of Mazdaò€™s sensational Furai concept.

However, unlike the massed ranks of the worldò€™s press, we were able to persuade Mazda to give us an even closer look, and were allowed to sample the stunning newcomer at the test track. The Furai is built on the chassis of a Le Mans racer, and it amazed our reporter with its astonishing speed, cornering ability and dramatic design.

Volvo C30 Recharge, (Issue 993)

Auto Express was first behind the wheel of Volvoò€™s experimental C30 Recharge. Itò€™s a hybrid with a difference, with motors in each wheel powered by batteries that are either charged by plugging them into the mains, or via a 1.6-litre biodiesel under the bonnet. Watch out for a production version in 2012.Ò 

ò€˜Cheaperò€™ Rolls (Issue 993)

The credit crunch was nowhere in sight when news of Rolls-Royceò€™s plans to build a baby Phantom emerged. Spy shots showing a mule based on a BMW 7-Series confirmed development was already underway, while an official announcement in June suggested a launch in 2010.

Driver Power (Issue 994)

January saw the seventh annual Driver Power Survey launched. Widely regarded as one of the car industryò€™s hardest-hitting satisfaction reports, 2008 saw new questions on hot topics such as green motoring and congestion charging. Our experts analysed the two million plus answers and generated the famous Driver Power 100, which was published in March. The 2009 survey went live this month.