A comprehensive run-down of what's hot on the new car market.

ALFA ROMEO...

Still the maker of some the prettiest cars on the market.

Overall, much to recommend in the Alfa range, with the Italian car maker's JTD diesel engines the main attraction.

RANGE: 147, 156, 156 Sportwagon, 166, GTV, GT, Spider. ONE TO WATCH: 147 remains a stylish alternative to mainstream hatchbacks.

AUDI...Two characters sum up Audi's impressive current philosophy: A4'. The latest, all-new version of the compact executive saloon has won rave reviews, and not just for its aggressive new grille.

The A6 may have been on sale a little longer, but its evolution continues apace with a new diesel engine and a fine-looking Avant model.

RANGE: A2, A3, A3 Sportback, A4, A4 Avant, Cabriolet, A6, A6 Avant Allroad, A8, TT Quattro. ONE TO WATCH: A6 Avant can justifiably claim to be best built and most stylish cars in its class.

BMW...While diesel versions of the popular X3 compact SUV have started to appear on our streets in decent numbers, the main attraction this time of the year is BMW's new 3 Series.

Bigger and better than its predecessor, the new 3 Series advances the German car maker's design philosophy another notch and is powered by a range of new and updated engines.

RANGE: 1 Series, 3 Series, Compact, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, Z4, X3, X5. ONE TO WATCH: Before you know it, you'll be surrounded by the 3 Series on all sides.

CHRYSLER...How quickly time has passed. Chrysler's Crossfire has been followed by a stylish convertible model and there's even talk of a high performance variant.

The company's all purpose Voyager is another model to have been updated, and features a new look, a new engine as well as substantially increased levels of passenger safety.

RANGE: PT Cruiser, Voyager, Grand Voyager, Crossfire. ONE TO WATCH: Voyager is now bang up to date and sports a number of clever features.

CHEVROLET...It's bye-bye Daewoo and hello Chevrolet. Since being acquired by the mighty General Motors, the Korean company has benefited from new levels of stability and been able to produce some fine, value for money cars.

The loveable Matiz city car and hugely undervalued Kalos supermini have much to recommend them - especially now that the latter can be had as a sporty-looking three-door model.

RANGE: Kalos, Matiz, Lacetti, Lacetti Station Wagon, Tacuma. ONE TO WATCH: Good-looking Lacetti is a strong budget proposition.

CITROEN...The dust has finally settled at Citroen, after what has been a hectic time for the French car maker.

Additions to the dinky C2 range includes a racy GT variant, while the C3 line-up has been bolstered by an adventurous-looking XTR model complete with a 4x4-influenced exterior plus a new frugal C3 that shuts off its engine in stationary traffic.

RANGE: C2, C3, C3 Pluriel, C4, C5, Berlingo, Picasso, C8. ONE TO WATCH: Citroen C4 should shake up the mass market.

DAIHATSU...Without seeming to make too much of a fuss about it, Daihatsu has put together a very impressive little product portfolio. Little' is the operative word as both the Charade city car and Copen roadster are small but perfectly formed.

RANGE: Charade, YRV, Sirion, Terios, Copen. ONE TO WATCH: New Charade is a steal at its bargain basement price.

FIAT...After a bit of a wobble a few years ago, Fiat is refreshed and offering cars that appeal to both the head and the heart.

Spaciousness isn't a problem in the Multipla and Ulysse. The Multipla's former bug-eyed looks may have gone, but it's as practical as ever, while the versatile Ulysse is among the most flexible MPVs on the market. RANGE: Panda, Punto, Idea, Barchetta, Multipla, Doblo, Stilo, Ulysse. ONE TO WATCH: With a 1.3-litre diesel engine aboard, the Panda will be hard to beat.

FORD...Hold the front page - there's a new Focus in town. The perennial chart topper is back in a new, improved format sitting atop a brand new platform that delivers an even better drive than its brilliant predecessor.

This year also sees the arrival of ST and Zetec S models to spice up the Fiesta line-up.

RANGE: Ka, StreetKa, Sportka, Fiesta, Fusion, Focus, Mondeo, Galaxy, Focus C-MAX. ONE TO WATCH: Brand new Focus picks up where the old one left off.

HONDA...CRITICS are still lavishing praise on Honda's new diesel engine, and quite rightly so, as this oil-burner is an absolute gem of an engine. Joining the diesel family is Honda's revised CR-V soft-roader, with the firm's FR-V family car due for a diesel injection later this year.

RANGE: Jazz, Civic, Accord, HR-V, CR-V, S2000, NSX, Stream, Insight. ONE TO WATCH: Diesel CR-V is destined to be a sales success.

HYUNDAI...Korean manufacturer Hyundai may not be the best-known car company in Britain, but it is doing its best to change that situation.

The new Tucson SUV is a rugged and sporty offering slotting just below the ever-popular Santa Fe.

RANGE: Getz, Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Matrix, Trajet, Coupe, Santa Fe, Terracan, Tucson. ONE TO WATCH: Affordable Tucson is a competent SUV.

JAGUAR...Jaguar has been embarking on a lot of firsts' of late. The first Jag estate - the X-Type - and the first Jag diesel have both hit the market and gone down a storm with both the press and public.

Moving up a size, a long wheelbase XJ is already among us, while a diesel version of Jaguar's flagship is not too far away.

RANGE: X-Type, S-Type, XK Series, XJ Series. ONE TO WATCH: S-Type diesel has proved to be a sales winner for the British car maker.

JEEP...The big US 4x4 specialist continues to climb every mountain and ford every stream with its three heavyweight models.

Although due in the summer, fans of Jeep's opulent Grand Cherokee can look forward to the arrival of a brand new version, complete with even higher standards of refinement, luxury and off-roading ability. RANGE: Wrangler, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee. ONE TO WATCH: Revisions to the Cherokee make the 4x4 even better.

KIA...Hyundai's sister company Kia is doing a very good job of raising its profile and making great strides in building on its once modest market share.

While the Cerato hatchback/saloon and all-new Sportage 4x4 have helped to increase the company's sales and public profile, it's the surprisingly satisfying Picanto city car that has impressed buyers the most.

RANGE: Rio, Magentis, Carens, Sedona, Picanto, Sorento, Cerato, Sportage. ONE TO WATCH: New Sportage is an impressive 4x4 package.

LAND ROVER...THE most luxurious of 4x4 brands continues its three-pronged attack with the Freelander, Discovery and Range Rover. Only now it's a four-pronged attack thanks to the arrival of the Range Rover Sport.

RANGE: Freelander, Defender, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery. ONE TO WATCH: New look Discovery has surprised and delighted with its abilities.

LEXUS...THE luxury Japanese marque has been busy behind the scenes, readying new models for the year ahead.

Following facelifts and refreshes to nearly every model, the IS maintains its cutting edge looks and role as the smart executive choice.

RANGE: IS, IS Sportcross, GS, LS, SC430, RX. ONE TO WATCH: Compact IS remains a stunning performer.

LOTUS...ALTHOUGH Lotus's enthusiasm for MG Rover's K-Series engine remains strong, the desire to sell cars in the lucrative North America market prompted the firm to look east and source a motor that didn't require costly modifications to meet Uncle Sam's approval.

The result is the Elise 111R which is powered by a tuned version of the engine in Toyota's Celica sports coupe.

RANGE: Elise, Exige. ONE TO WATCH: Minimalist Elise is pure fun on four wheels.

Watch out for M to Z next week.