As the Citroen DS5 has been the proverbial 'top dog' in terms of new family estate models, the new Ford Focus ST may be set to give it a run for its money.
Both of the new models offer similar style, luxury and family qualities, but each has their own perks that make them unique.
The DS5 is already on sale and has therefore got a head start in terms of sales, but the car market may be in for a surprise when the Focus ST goes on sale in September this year.
But how does the Ford Focus ST compare to the Citroen DS5?
Cost
The prices of both models are very similar. The Ford Focus ST starts from £23,095 and the Citroen DS5 starts from £22,400.
Style
Both models offer different types of body shapes. The Focus ST offers more of a 'typical' estate body style with an extended box-like hatchback shape.
The DS5 also offers an extended rear end, but instead of being box shaped the DS5's roof curves right over its body from front to back.
In terms of actual style trends the DS5 offers a luxurious look with chrome highlights, bonnet contours and a highly sculptured front end. The Focus ST offers more of a sporty appeal with a rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and a custom orange/yellow 'Tangerine Scream' paint job.
The Citroen DS5Engines
The engines of the two models are probably the key difference between them, with the DS5 offering the frugal emissions perk and the Focus ST offering the power perk.
The DS5 comes with a wide range of engines, including the diesel Hybrid4 powertrain that emits emissions as low as 99g/km and returns up to 74.3mpg. It also produces a surprising 200bhp.
The Focus ST is available with just one engine from launch, which is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol producing 247bhp. However it emits CO2 emissions of 169g/km and returns up to 39.2mpg.
The Ford Focus STCost efficiency is usually a key family quality with cars and with this being the case some may favour the DS5 and its Hybrid4 powertrain.
However, the Hybrid4 model starts from £27,600, but the entry level e-HDi 110 of the DS5 still offers impressively low C02 emissions of 114g/km.
Equipment levels
The Citroen DS5 comes with three trim levels: DSign, DStyle and DSport. The Ford Focus ST also comes with three trim levels: ST, ST-2 and ST-3.
Entry level features of the Citroen DS5 DSign include cruise control, air conditioning, Bluetooth and a leather steering wheel. The DS5 also comes with plenty of cubby holes and boot space of up to 465-litres. The entry level Ford Focus ST comes with air conditioning, keyless start, Bluetooth and a digital radio.
The top of the range Citroen DS5 DSport trim adds heated front seats, full leather upholstery and bi-xenon headlights. The top of the range Ford Focus ST-3 trim also adds these features.
Equipment for both entry level models is quite basic yet essential, so both models tick the key feature boxes when it comes to equipment.
As both of the top of the range trims add similar features it may come down to price, where the Focus ST would win by a nose with £25,495 compared to the DS5's £28,000 price tag.
Verdict - Is it a family car?
Again it comes down to 'what do you want the car for?'
If you are looking for a purely convenient family based car that is smart, spacious, well equipped and cheap to run, then the Citroen DS5 is the one to go for, more specifically the £22,400 Citroen DS5 DSign.
If you want a family car that offers a sporty driving experience, sporty exterior styling and sporty power, yet can double up as a large family estate - then go for the £23,095 Ford Focus ST.
The Chevrolet Volt vs ZombiesThe Chevrolet Volt is a special car. Not only does it offer all-electric driving, a 350-mile range and a premium specification, it can also save you in the event of a zombie attack.
This latest video is the brainchild of Josh Soskin, winner of the annual MoFilm Barcelona 2012 video competition asking filmmakers to create videos for 'big brands and social causes'.
The video itself is a good one, featuring two men fleeing a zombie apocalypse in a battered older car. When it runs out of fuel, things look grim for them as zombies converge on the car.
That is until a Chevrolet Volt drives into view. The occupant, a woman, invites the two men in and they are seen driving away down the highway, safe from Zombie attack.
The advert won the prize ahead of a series of other submissions including an innuendo-filled advert focused on 'range anxiety', an online gaming spoof and a play on free range chickens to highlight the abilities of the Volt.
All of the adverts focus on the extended range of the Chevrolet Volt, which can travel 40 miles on electric charge alone and a further 310 miles when the petrol engine kicks in to extend the range.
The Chevrolet Volt is seen as the answer to electric car's range anxiety issues and, despite using a petrol engine, easily outstrips hybrid cars in terms of CO2 emissions and fuel costs.
The Volt offers 27g/km of CO2 emissions and fuel economy above 230mpg - more than double that of a standard hybrid or frugal petrol or diesel car.
Chevrolet is no stranger to unique advertising for its new cars, and the Volt in particular, but this latest advert is a real winner.
You can watch it below. Alternatively, you can see the latest Chevrolet Volt prices or organise a Chevrolet Volt test drive here.
This is the week when Renault makes its move to take on the hugely successful premium Citroen DS range and the stylish Peugeot RCZ after it announced it will be revealing the eagerly-awaited Renault Alpine for the first time.
While its fellow French manufacturers have successfully launched their very own 'halo cars', bringing exciting new models to the range, Renault has fallen behind.
It may be a leader in electric cars but the brand lacks a car with 'wow factor' - and the historic racing Alpine brand would certainly bring that.
Alpine is the ideal name to bring a sporty, racing-inspired car to the brand. Having teamed up with Renault in the 1960s, it went on to achieve a 1-2-3 finish in the Monte Carlo rally in 1971 and win the World Rally Championship.
Renault Alpine teaserFittingly, the teaser image released by Renault shows an Alpine car with a 1971 registration plate, hinting at a design nod towards the racing brands' illustrious past.
Designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Alpine A110, the new concept will be based on the more modern Renault Megane Trophy race car and could use a 395bhp V6 engine.
It is also rumoured to incorporate the design first shown in the Renault DeZir supercar concept released in 2010, including the low, road-hugging body, elongated grille and curved wheel arches.
Renault announced it was re-introducing the Alpine range in 2007 and it has been a long wait to see what it makes of the brand, but the wait is set to be over this week when Renault reveals the final model.
The introduction of a new Renault Alpine will be a separate, 'halo' range of models for Renault and, if it all works out, could have a similar impact to the likes of the revived Citroen DS line for the French manufacturer.