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With the warmer, summer weather now upon us, we examine the hotter end of the diesel market, in this Summer Performance and Sports Car special issue. We’ve got tests of the Porsche Panamera 4S Diesel, the Ford Focus ST with PowerShift automatic gearbox and Volkswagen’s Tiguan SUV with the 236bhp 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine. We also take a look in the rear-view mirror at affordable retro performance heroes – how many of them have you owned?

But it isn’t just the weather causing us to get hot under the collar, environmentalists and politicians have also been getting worked up, with diesel power firmly in the spotlight. With many of the sensationalist headlines about diesel power simply wrong and ill-informed, we cut through the waffle and deliver the facts on the matter in the first of three comprehensive features. If you want ammunition to fight diesel’s corner, you really can’t miss out on the next three issues of DieselCar.

It’s also a month for testing updated models, with our testers putting the latest Renault Captur dCi 110 through its paces. We’ve also driven the facelifted BMW 4 Series Coupé, the Skoda Rapid Hatchback and the 2017 model year SsangYong Korando, in addition to the revised Skoda Octavia Scout. In this month’s twin test, the striking new Citroën C3 faces the brand-new Kia Rio – which one comes out top in our supermini grudge match?

Got a penchant for motoring themed days out? Then you can’t miss out on our guide to the best venues for car nuts. From museums to factory visits, it’s a petrolhead’s dream, or should that be dieselhead? Meanwhile, it’s all change in the Diesel Car long term car park, as we say goodbye to the Honda CR-V, Jaguar XF, Skoda Rapid Spaceback and Subaru Outback. What will they be replaced with? You’ll have to stay tuned to find out in the August issue.

In EcoCar this month, we examine the subject of car sickness in autonomous vehicles and drive the latest Suzuki Swift mild-hybrid on UK roads for the first time. Mercedes-Benz’s E 350 e plug-in hybrid is put through its paces and this month’s comprehensive used car buyer’s guide focusses on the Honda CR-Z Hybrid – still the only petrol-electric hybrid sold with a six-speed manual gearbox.

There’s also news about Skoda’s Karoq – our cover story – as well as first pictures of the revised BMW 1 Series and 2 Series and update for the Peugeot 308. This is in addition to all your favourites like long-term test reports, Doctor Diesel, the extra mile, gadget inspector and our buying, selling and maintaining section. And not forgetting the most comprehensive data section in the magazine business, listing every diesel, hybrid, electric, fuel-cell and sub-100g/km petrol car on the market today, including those with automatic transmissions.

Tested:

• BMW 420d xDrive M Sport Coupe Automatic
• Citroen C3 Flair BlueHDi 100
• DS 4 Performance Line BlueHDi 120 Automatic
• Ford Focus ST-3 2.0 TDCi PowerShift Automatic
• Kia Rio 3 1.4 CRDi
• Porsche Panamera 4S Diesel
• Renault Captur Signature S Nav dCi 110
• Skoda Rapid SE L 1.4 TDI
• Skoda Octavia Scout 2.0 TDI 4×4
• SsangYong Korando 2.2 ELX 4×4 Automatic
• Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 2.0 BiTDI 4Motion Automatic

Long-term test reports:

• Audi A3 Sportback S line 2.0 TDI
• DS 5 Prestige BlueHDi 180 Automatic
• Ford Edge Titanium 2.0 TDCi Automatic
• Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC EX 4WD
• Jaguar XF R-Sport 2.0D Automatic
• Kia Optima Sportswagon GT-Line S 1.7 CRDi Automatic
• Mazda3 SE-L Nav 1.5 5-door
• Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian Automatic
• SEAT Ateca SE 1.6 TDI Ecomotive
• Skoda Rapid Spaceback SE Sport 1.4 TDI
• Subaru Outback 2.0D SE Premium Lineartronic

Feature:

• Dirty diesels part I – a look at the facts as to why diesel cars are just a tiny part of the air quality problem
• Diesel Retro Performance Heroes
• Great motoring days out
• Car sickness in autonomous cars

Used Car Buyer’s Guide:

• Honda CR-Z Hybrid (2010 to 2015)