1997 in motoring

1997 in motoring deals with developments in the automotive industry that occurred in 1997, listed by country. The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles.

United Kingdom

A year after launching the Ka city car, Ford produced another car from its Fiesta chassis in the shape of the Puma – a 2+2 compact sports coupe with distinctive styling. Its entry-level 1.4 16-valve Zetec engine was sourced from the Fiesta, but the larger 1.7 unit was seen only in the Puma and was significantly more powerful than the Fiesta-sourced engine.

Vauxhall stopped production of its Calibra coupe range after eight years.

Italy

The European Car of the Year award for 1998 went to the Alfa Romeo 156. It was a sporty-looking four-door saloon aimed directly at the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. The four-door saloon was the only model in the 156 range.

Fiat facelifted the Cinquecento city car after six years on sale and gave it a new name – Seicento. The Seicento was a reworking of its predecessor with curvier detailings, and with the standard 700cc engine being dropped and the continuing 900cc unit being available with "Citymatic" semi-automatic transmission – with a normal manual-style gear-lever but no clutch.

France

Citroën stopped ZX production after seven years to make way for an all-new car – the Xsara. The Xsara was a conventionally styled hatchback. The coupe offered a 2.0 "VTS" version which was capable of nearly 140 mph.

Germany

The Volkswagen Golf entered its fourth generation with the look of its predecessor, but was an all-new car. The Golf was initially sold as a hatchback only, with estate and cabriolet versions expected in 1998. Entry-level Golfs used 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines as well as a 1.9 diesel, with more expensive versions including the 1.9 turbo-diesel as well as the four GTI models – 1.8 non-turbo, 1.8 turbo, 2.0 and 2.3 V5. A saloon version – the Bora – replaced the Vento in 1998.

Audi stopped the 100 nameplate after 29 years and replaced it with the nametag A6. It was designed as a direct competitor for the BMW 5 Series. The A6 estate is called "Avant".

Mercedes-Benz had new models. The first was the A-Class, its first front-wheel drive car. The other addition to the Mercedes range was the SLK – a two-seater sports car with a folding convertible-style steel roof and a supercharged 2.3 litre engine capable of 150 mph. It was designed as a direct competitor to two new rival sports cars that have recently come from Germany – the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z3.

Japan

The Honda Accord and the Toyota Corolla were updated for 1998.