Looking back on 2008, I think we can safely say that it was the year that segments went mental, brand snobbery relaxed and the recession/depression caught up with the new car market.

2008 saw currency madness, government bailouts and that new breakfast cereal 'Credit Crunch' (I haven't tasted it yet but I can only assume that it takes the form of sugar-coated pound-signs and is only available when you're not hungry).

The tail end of 2008 has seen a large influx of dealers (despite a substantial and confusing set of VRT rates) and buyers crossing the border from Southern Ireland to buy in the North and I can only assume that this trend will strengthen if the pound continues to go down the bog.

I've added an exhaustive plan of dealer launches for 2009 and to look at it (110 new cars being introduced into an overstretched unstable market), you'd get the impression that everything was rosy.

Is it really going to be a busy year ahead? Are manufacturers committed to launching?

Don't bank on it - we've already seen several projects being unceremoniously canned (Aston's Project One-77 and the Honda NSX to name a couple). Manufacturers could decide to pull the plug on as many of the overambitious projects as they can. This could easily be the year of the Korean supermini.

Time will tell...

2009 will be a year of big changes to buyer-behaviour and manufacturers are already making huge changes to pre-empt demand swings.

The clever research and development money is being chucked at the eco-friendly technology but looking at this launch schedule there is a bewildering number of SUVs, luxury cars and performance cars planned.

We all live in hope that this launch schedule is not blind optimism and that the manufacturers know what they're doing.

They do... dont they?

Bentley
Continental Flying Spur Speed>Early 2009> a big name for a big fast luxury car

BMW
Just like Audi, BMW has a baby SUV in the offing as well as a long-awaited new Z4 and a tree-hugging coupe/SUV thingy, the X6 Hybrid.
X1 > Winter 2009 > 4X4
X6 Hybrid > Winter 2009 > 4X4
Z4 > Early 2009 > Convertible

Cadillac
CTS Coupe > Summer 2009 > Coupe version of the saloon that trashed the Nurburgring production car time in 2008.

Fiat
The Italians are exploiting the strength of the 500 demand and cleverly diversifying. The 500 Abarth is fantastic apparently.
Fiorino Qubo > January 2009 > 4X4
Doblo > Winter 2009 > MPV
500 Convertible > April 2009 > Convertible
500 Abarth > January 2009 > Sports hatch

Ford
Mmmmm... Focus RS
Focus RS > Summer 2009 > Sports hatch

Honda
Only one launch from the Japanese giant this year and no more talk of the NSX. Funny that the last one was launched during the previous recession?
Insight > Spring 2009 > Small family car

Kia
As with Hyundai, this Korean manufacturer could be another one to watch - it's been chucking money at development and will almost certainly come out of the Global downturn smelling of roses.
Soul > March 2009 > Supermini/City Car
Kia > Sorento > Winter 2009 > 4X4
Kia > C'eed > Early 2009 > Small family car


Lamborghini
We would like to review them both please...
Gallardo LP560 > Spring 2009 > Convertible
Murcielago SV > Spring 2009 > Supercar

Lancia
Hoping to make a comeback in the UK market this year, all eyes are on the Italian car-maker that used to win rallies.
Delta > Early 2009 > Small family car

Land Rover
The economy may be going into freefall. What do we need? New Range Rovers!
Discovery > Summer 2009 > 4X4
Freelander TD4_e > Summer 2009 > 4X4
Range Rover > Summer 2009 > 4X4
Range Rover Sport > Summer 2009 > 4X4

Mini
This year will see an odd crossover between a small estate and a sports hatch - the Clubman JCW.
Cabriolet > Spring 2009 > Convertible
Clubman JCW > Spring 2009 > Sports hatch

Mitsubishi
Colt > Early 2009 > Supermini/City Car
Outlander > May 2009 > 4X4

Nissan
The fabled GT-R will finally be hitting the tarmac in a couple of months (I still haven't had a drive)
Note > January 2009 > Supermini/City Car
Pixo > Summer 2009 > Supermini/City Car
370Z > Summer 2009 > Coupe
GT-R > March 2009 > Supercar


Peugeot
107 > Early 2009 > Supermini/City Car
308CC > Spring 2009 > Convertible

Seat
Ibiza Ecomotive > April 2009 > Supermini/City Car
Leon > Summer 2009 > Small family car
Ibiza Cupra > February 2009 > Sports hatch

Skoda
Fabia Scout > May 2009 > Supermini/City Car
Octavia > January 2009 > Small family car
Yeti > Winter 2009 > 4X4

Smart
Cleverly timed Eco-diesel.
Fortwo Cdi > February 2009 > Supermini/City Car

Subaru
Legacy > Early 2009 > Medium family car

Volkswagen
The new Golf GTI is among this lot!
Golf > January 2009 > Small family car
Golf Plus > Spring 2009 > Small family car
Golf Bluemotion > Autumn 2009 > Small family car
Passat Bluemotion > Summer 2009 > Medium family car
Phaeton > January 2009 > Luxury car
Golf GTI > Autumn 2009 > Sports hatch

Volvo
XC60 > Summer 2009 > 4X4